The United States Marine Corps traces its…

The United States Marine Corps traces its roots to the Continental Marines of the American Revolutionary War, formed by Captain Samuel Nicholas by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress on November 10, 1775, to raise two battalions of Marines.

That date is regarded and celebrated as the date of the Marine Corps' birthday.

At the end of the American Revolution, both the Continental Navy and Continental Marines had been disbanded in April 1783.

The institution itself is resurrected on July 11, 1798, when, in preparation for the Quasi-War with France, Congress creates the United States Marine Corps.

Marines have been enlisted by the War Department as early as August 1797 for service in the new-build frigates authorized by the Congressional "Act to provide a Naval Armament" of March 18, 1794, which specifies the numbers of Marines to recruit for each frigate.