Captain Samuel Nicholas: A Brief History
Samuel Nicholas, born in 1744, became the first commissioned officer of theContinental Marines. He was born to Mary and Andrew Nicholas. His father was aprosperous Quaker blacksmith. Due to his father's prominence in the community,sixteen-year-old Samuel Nicholas joined the exclusive Schuylkill Fishing Company andwas a founding member of the Gloucester Fox Hunting Club. Both of these endeavorsbrought him in frequent contact with a myriad of prominent Philadelphians, many of wholater played leading roles in the revolution.In early 1775, Samuel Nicholas had established himself in the Philadelphiabusiness owners' community by successfully opening and running a successful tavern,the Conestoga wagon. This same year the Second Continental Congress b
On November 28, 1775, Captain Nichols's commission was confirmed in writingand his pay set at $32 per month by Congress. By the end of 1775he had raised five companies of Marines and sailed with them to the Bahamas. He led three companies of Marines in the Trenton-Princetoncampaign. Upon porting back in Philadelphia, Captain Nicholas resumed recruiting andtraining exactly where he left off. On June 25, 1776, Captain Nicholas was promoted tothe rank of Major. Major Nicholas and his men then received orders to the artillery, where theyremained with General Washington until the next spring, when their terms of enlistmentexpired. egan lookingfor a means of resolving an alarming shortage of seamen for its relatively newborn navy. Recruiting began immediately at Philadelphia's Tun Tavern for duty aboard the24-gun frigate Black Prince, later renamed Alfred. Congresscommissioned Samuel Nicholas as the "Captain of Marines" on November 5, 1775. Inhis capture of 2 forts, 88 cannons, 15 mortars, and untold other military related items,nary a drop of blood was spilt. During the three-hourexchange between ships, Captain Nicholas witnessed the death of his Second Lieutenant. Captain Nicholas's tour of duty was eventful without doubt. This single military movement was the Marines first ever-amphibious landing, and additionally was the most successful Naval operation of theentire Revolutionary War. "On a side note, contrary to popular belief, Captain Samuel Nicholas was not the first'"Commandant".
Common topics in this essay:
Captain Nicholas,
British Nassau,
Samuel Nicholas,
Continental Congress,
Captain Nicholas's,
Major Nicholas,
Hunting Club,
Marines November,
Marine Corps,
Andrew Nicholas,
samuel nicholas,
marine corps,
captain nicholas,
major nicholas,
commandant marine,
tun tavern,
commandant marine corps,
companies marines,
lieutenant colonel,
|
Acceptance Essays
