Captain Samuel Nicholas: A Brief History

Continental Marines. He was born to Mary and Andrew Nicholas. His father was a

prosperous Quaker blacksmith. Due to his father's prominence in the community,

sixteen-year-old Samuel Nicholas joined the exclusive Schuylkill Fishing Company and

was a founding member of the Gloucester Fox Hunting Club. Both of these endeavors

brought him in frequent contact with a myriad of prominent Philadelphians, many of who

later played leading roles in the revolution.

In early 1775, Samuel Nicholas had established himself in the Philadelphia

business 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 writing

and his pay set at $32 per month by Congress. By the end of 1775

he had raised five companies of Marines and sailed with them to the Bahamas. He led three companies of Marines in the Trenton-Princeton

campaign.

Upon porting back in Philadelphia, Captain Nicholas resumed recruiting and

training exactly where he left off. On June 25, 1776, Captain Nicholas was promoted to

the rank of Major. Major Nicholas and his men then received orders to the artillery, where they

remained with General Washington until the next spring, when their terms of enlistment

expired. egan looking

for 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 the

24-gun frigate Black Prince, later renamed Alfred. Congress

commissioned Samuel Nicholas as the "Captain of Marines" on November 5, 1775. In

his capture of 2 forts, 88 cannons, 15 mortars, and untold other military related items,

nary a drop of blood was spilt. During the three-hour

exchange 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 the

entire 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,

Approximate Word count = 514
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Already a member? Click here