Combat
American Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War won the Thirteen Colonies their independence from Britain, and the Continental Marines were born in the middle of it, established by resolution of the Continental Congress on 10 November 1775 at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia under Captain Samuel Nicholas, the founding date of the United States Marine Corps. Continental Marines served aboard navy frigates and sloops, on state navy vessels and privateers, and ashore in detachments with the army. Their major actions ran from the Raid on New Providence in 1776, the first Marine amphibious landing, through service at Trenton and Princeton, the Whitehaven raid and the capture of the Drake under John Paul Jones, the Penobscot disaster of 1779, the Bonhomme Richard's victory over the Serapis, and the Charleston and Gulf coast campaigns. Across the war, about 49 Marines were killed and 70 wounded. The Corps was disbanded after the war and reconstituted in 1798.
Engagements in this conflict (42) Podcast episodes on American Revolutionary War
Record no. 794