United States Marine Corps

United States Marine Corps. , The United States Marine Corps was established on November 10, 1775, in Philadelphia as the Continental Marines by a Resolution of the Second Continental Congress which authorized the enlistment of two battalions of Marines for service at sea. Its first expedition was the capture of Fort Montague on New Providence Island in the Bahamas on March 9, 1778. Upon the inactivation of the Continental Navy in 1785, the Marine Corps was temporarily discontinued, to be reestablished as a military service on July 11, 1799, in Philadelphia by an Act of the Second Session, Fifth Congress of the United States, upon the enactment of legislation to provide a Corps of Marines. The Continental Marines was preceded by various colonial and privateer marine forces, and during the interim, independent marine detachments were recruited and served aboard American ships., As the senior commissioned officer in the Continental Marines, Major Samuel Nicholas of Pennsylvania is considered the first military leader of the Marine Corps, whose current title is Commandant of the Marine Corps, with the rank of General., A naval service, the Marine Corps is a part of the Department of the Navy, the origin of which is elsewhere recorded as such. Its administration is controlled by the Secretary of the Navy, when so assigned. The operating forces of the Marine Corps are commanded by the Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy., Scarlet and Gold are the colors of the Marine Corps, "The Marines' Hymn" its anthem, and "Semper Fidelis" (Always Faithful) its march and its motto.