Samuel Nicholas was born in 1744 to a Quaker family. He owned and operated the Conestoga Wagon Tavern in Philadelphia and is credited with starting the Marine Corps. Nicholas had many advantages early in life. At age 7, his uncle, Attwood Shute, the Mayor of Philadelphia; paid for him to attend the Philadelphia Academy. What is now known as the University of Pennsylvania, it quickly became affiliated with the prestigious Philadelphia Academy. He finished his studies at the Academy in 1759 at the age of 15 and became heavily involved with high society upon graduation.
In 1766, Nicholas organized the Gloucester Fox Hunting Club, one of the first hunt clubs in America, and later became a member of the Patriotic Association. Two years later, he married Mary Jenkins, the daughter of a local businessman. Shortly after Nicholas married, he took over the Connestogoe (later Conestoga) Wagon Tavern which was owned by his father-in-law. Nicholas and his wife had three children, a daughter and two sons, Samuel, Jr., and Charles Jenkins Nicholas.
Because of his established role in Philadelphia society, when the Second Continental Congress began looking for men to fight in the Navy, they contacted Samuel Nicholas to assist them.
Nicholas was officially commissioned as Captain of the Marines on November 5, 1775. At that time, the Marines were officially started as a branch of the Navy ready to fight for independence on shore and at sea. The Marines were considered more quickly trained as combat fighters rather than strategic fighters. Five days later, on November 10, the Second Continental Congress allowed two battalions of Marines to be enlisted. Later that month, on November 28, Nicholas’ commission was confirmed by Congress and signed by John Hancock. His pay was initially set at $32 per month. When asked to design the uniforms for the Marines, Nicholas used a template from the hunting outfits of the Gloucester Fox Hunting Club, which used a leather collar. He incorporated these collars into the uniforms, which is how Marines came to be known as “leathernecks.”
In 1766, Nicholas organized the Gloucester Fox Hunting Club, one of the first hunt clubs in America, and later became a member of the Patriotic Association. Two years later, he married Mary Jenkins, the daughter of a local businessman. Shortly after Nicholas married, he took over the Connestogoe (later Conestoga) Wagon Tavern which was owned by his father-in-law. Nicholas and his wife had three children, a daughter and two sons, Samuel, Jr., and Charles Jenkins Nicholas.
Because of his established role in Philadelphia society, when the Second Continental Congress began looking for men to fight in the Navy, they contacted Samuel Nicholas to assist them.
Nicholas was officially commissioned as Captain of the Marines on November 5, 1775. At that time, the Marines were officially started as a branch of the Navy ready to fight for independence on shore and at sea. The Marines were considered more quickly trained as combat fighters rather than strategic fighters. Five days later, on November 10, the Second Continental Congress allowed two battalions of Marines to be enlisted. Later that month, on November 28, Nicholas’ commission was confirmed by Congress and signed by John Hancock. His pay was initially set at $32 per month. When asked to design the uniforms for the Marines, Nicholas used a template from the hunting outfits of the Gloucester Fox Hunting Club, which used a leather collar. He incorporated these collars into the uniforms, which is how Marines came to be known as “leathernecks.”
An excellent, very informative post. Thank you, sir.
ReplyDeleteThe least I could do in honor of the men and women who serve. Semper Fi!
ReplyDelete:)
ReplyDeleteYou denigrate them. When I told you that I have relatives who served, you insisted it was for free sex change operations.
ReplyDeleteYou told me nothing to refute it.
ReplyDeleteI told you you're full of shit.
ReplyDelete...ad hominem's aren't refutations.
ReplyDelete:P
It didn't happen. I don't know anyone who has had a sex change operation. Or wants one.
ReplyDeleteThen why insist that such a "benefit" is necessary?
ReplyDeleteVeterans already receive too many outrageous benefits, which they guard jealously (ie early retirement). For decades Merchant Mariners would denied veteran status or benefits, yet they had the highest per-person service casualty rate in WWII.
ReplyDeleteI have never argued people who serve in the military should receive free sex change operations. I have never argued that Merchant Mariners should be denied benefits. I think we need a national health care system and that everyone should receive the health care they need.
ReplyDeleteThen we disagree on fundamentals. I agree that both service members and support civilian staff and contractors should receive lifetime treatment for wounds received in combat areas. Sex change operations aren't war wounds. Civilians who don't participate in war are on their own, and unless the war is fought in their homeland, should receive no governmental medical consideration.
ReplyDeleteMercenaries? OK, I'm with you. If you're an American mercenary (working for a company like Blackwater) then no healthcare paid for by the government for you.
ReplyDeleteMercenaries are contractors, just like the civilian Haliburton employees in the Green Zone Commissaries and Post Exchanges.
ReplyDeleteContract murderers get free healthcare. In prison.
ReplyDeleteSo do the homeless. Maybe we should lock 'em up?
ReplyDeleteThey don't. Making homelessness illegal sounds like something you'd definitely be down with.
ReplyDeleteEver read Orwell's "The Spike"?
ReplyDelete"Keep 'em movin'!"
ReplyDeleteIs it a blueprint to make American great again? At least as far as how the poor should be treated.
ReplyDeleteThe takeaway isn't "keep em movin", it's that poor people aren't scum as the young carpenter clams. In the end Scotty runs to catch up with the author to share what little he has (repaying the kindness the author did for him earlier in the narrative).
ReplyDelete