July 11, 1798
President John Adams signed "An Act for Establishing and Organizing a Marine Corps" into law, creating the United States Marine Corps. The following day, Adams appointed William Ward Burrows as the first Major Commandant of the Corps. The Marine Corps celebrated its birthday on July 11 from 1799 until 1921, when the date was changed to November 10 to commemorate the Corps' role in the Revolutionary War.
