Samuel Nicholas, born in 1744, became the first commissioned officer of the
             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 began looking
             for a means of resolving an alarming shortage of seamen for its relatively newborn navy.
             On account of his numerous contacts with prominent revolution leaders. Congress
             commissioned Samuel Nicholas as the "Captain of Marines" on November 5, 1775. Five
             days later, on November 10, 1775 the Congress authorized the enlistment of two
             Recruiting began immediately at Philadelphia's Tun Tavern for duty aboard the
             24-gun frigate Black Prince, later renamed Alfred. The owner of Tun Tavern, Robert
             Mullen, shortly received his own commissioning as a Captain in the fledgling Marine
             Corps. On November 28, 1775, Captain Nichols's commission was confirmed in writing
             and his pay set at $32 per month by Congress.
             Captain Nicholas's tour of duty was eventful without doubt. By the end of 1775
             he had raised five companies of Marines and sailed with them to the Bahamas. Upon
             arrival, in March of 1776, he led his 284 men into battle against the British at Nassau. In
             his capture of 2 forts, 88 cannons, 15 mortars, and untold other military related items,
             nary a drop of blood was spilt. This single military movement was the Marines first ever-
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