The Father of the US Marine Corps - Samuel Nicholas
Samuel Nicholas is considered the first Commandant of the US Marine Corps.
I have begun calling him the Father of the US Marine Corps, though others could argue to hold that title. Unarguably, Samuel Nicholas assembled the Marine Corps in the early days of the Revolutionary War.
Samuel Nicholas
Samuel Nicholas was born to a moderately successful Philadelphia family.
Although his father was an important blacksmith, his uncle had been Mayor of Philadelphia and helped Samuel enroll at the College of Philadelphia.
After graduation, he became owner of a tavern known as the Connostogoe Wagon.
First Commandant of the Marines
While many members of the Philadelphia elite may have known Nicholas from his tavern, he was better known as a regular member of that city's most prominent hunting and fishing clubs.
This seems to have been the reason, in November of 1775, that he was chosen by the Continental Congress to assemble a marine corps.
Samuel was appointed a Captain and has since been considered the first Commandant of the United States Marine Corps (even though there would not be a United States for another nine months).
The Raid of Nassau
Nicholas recruited his first crew and set sail with the young US Navy under the command of Esek Hopkins.
When the Navy began the Raid on Nassau (then known as New Providence) in the Caribbean, Samuel led the marines in their first engagement on foreign soil.
Although the town was successfully taken, as were many supplies, the targeted gunpowder was removed by the British before the marines could apprehend it.
Some Fighting in Jersey
When he returned to Philadelphia, Nicholas was promoted to Major.
He joined General Washington for part of the New Jersey Campaign before heading back to Pennsylvania to recruit more men.
Samuel did request to see more action, but the Continental Congress decided to keep him local and focus on furthering enlistments and training.
Afterwards
At the close of the Revolutionary War, Nicholas had been at the head of the Marine Corps for all eight years of its existence.
Although the current Marine Corps would not be established until 1798, under President John Adams, Samuel is still viewed as its original Commandant.
After his discharge, Nicholas returned to private life where he would pass away in his mid-40’s during a yellow fever outbreak in 1790.
Want to read about other members of the CONTINENTAL NAVY?
Check out these articles:
Lambert Wickes - The Continental Navy’s Most Successful Captain
Nicholas Biddle’s Ship Explodes - The Battle of Barbados
Alexander Gillion - Commodore of the South Carolina Navy
I’ll be honest, of all the Founders I’ve covered, Samuel Nicholas is one of the most surprising to NOT have a biography about them.
To learn more about Naval warfare during the Revolutionary was, check out ‘Small Boats and Daring Men’ by Benjamin Armstrong.
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