The establishment of a Marine unit was authorized by the Continental Congress 10 November 1775, and therefore it is often considered the oldest branch of our armed forces. The instigator of the idea was Major Samuel Nicholas, a Quaker and a man of pious thought thirsting for action, which he got eight short weeks later when word was received that the British were accumulating stocks of munitions on New Providence Island in the Bahamas. An expedition was at once dispatched in eight small ships containing Nicholas and some 300 Marines....

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