The United States Navy traces its official founding to October 13, 1775.
On that date, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution authorizing the purchase of two vessels for armed service against British shipping. This created the Continental Navy, which the modern U.S. Navy recognizes as its institutional beginning.
The Continental Navy operated during the Revolutionary War but was disbanded after the conflict. A permanent peacetime Navy was later established through the Naval Act of 1794, which authorized six frigates during George Washington’s presidency.
The Navy’s founding date is distinct from the dates associated with other U.S. military services. The Army dates to June 14, 1775, while the Marine Corps dates to November 10, 1775. These anniversaries all fall within the broader Revolutionary-era history highlighted by America250.