Semper FI: The Founding of the United States Marine Corps in November 1775

This is very likely the earliest Marine commander’s appointment in private hands

 

The appointee, Capt. John Welsh, was killed in battle in the Marines first ever landing in the face of enemy fire; he was one of the first Marine commanders killed in action

The Marine Corps was founded on November 10, 1775, when the Continental Congress ordered that two battalions of Marines be raised for service as landing forces with the fleet. The recruiting headquarters was set up by Samuel Nicholas in the Tun Tavern on Water Street in Philadelphia, which is considered to be the birthplace of the Marines, and November 10 the birthday.

To commence Marine operations, on November 28, John Hancock, President of Congress, appointed Nicholas and Joseph Shoemaker captains of Marines. Captain was the highest rank in the Marines, so these were command positions. Two days later, on November 30, Hancock named John Welsh to a captaincy, making Welsh, Nicholas, and Shoemaker the first officer/commanders in the Marine Corps.

Document signed, Philadelphia, November 30, 1775, being Welsh’s very appointment. It acts on behalf of the “Delegates of the United Colonies”, and states: “John Welsh, We reposing especial trust and confidence in your patriotism, valor, conduct and fidelity, Do by these presents constitute and appoint you to be Captain of Marines…” The document is signed by John Hancock as President and countersigned by Charles Thomson as Secretary of Congress.

To say this document is a rarity is an understatement; it is unique. A search of public sale records going back 40 years fails to turn up another example of Hancock appointing a Marine officer of any rank. The appointment of Nicholas is in the U.S. Marine Corps Museum, and the location of that of Shoemaker is unknown. This, then, is likely the earliest Marine commander’s appointment in private hands and to have come up for sale.

In the spring of 1779, a British force built a fort at the mouth of the Penobscot River, near where Castine, Maine now stands but was then a part of Massachusetts. The State assembled a powerful expedition, including three Continental warships. Leading the fleet’s 300 marines was Marine Capt. John Welsh of the frigate Warren, with about half of the men Continental Marines, and the rest serving in the state navies. The landing was the Marines first in the face of enemy fire and the first in which they tried to hold the ground they seized.

The American warships fought the British for two hours on July 26, 1779, and forced the British ships upriver. Capt. Welsh and the Marines landed on Nautilus Island, routed the 20 British Marines on the Island, and installed a three-gun battery there.

At dawn on July 28, Capt. Welsh and his Marines, together with the Massachusetts militia, assaulted the mainland where the British were building their fort. The Americans, with the Marines on the right flank, landed under fire at the foot of a steep cliff and drove back the 300-man guard of British regulars. The Marines did the heaviest fighting. Capt. Welsh and eight Continental Marines were killed in the assault, and Marine Lt. William Hamilton was mortally wounded at the cliff’s base.