On what date did the Continental Congress establish the Continental Marines?

The Continental Congress established the Continental Marines on November 10, 1775.

The new force served aboard Continental Navy vessels during the American Revolutionary War. Its duties included shipboard security, naval boarding, amphibious operations, and fighting alongside sailors during engagements. Samuel Nicholas is commonly regarded as the first commandant of the Continental Marines.

The Continental Marines were organized before the Declaration of Independence and before the United States formally existed as an independent nation. Congress authorized two battalions of marines, although the organization never reached the scale of a modern military service. The Continental Marines were disbanded in 1783 after the war ended.

The modern United States Marine Corps was established separately in 1798. Nevertheless, the Marine Corps observes November 10, 1775, as its birthday because it traces its institutional heritage to the Continental Marines. This distinction can cause confusion between the wartime organization and the later permanent service.