Sketch of Tun Tavern.
November 10, 1775
The United States Marine Corps formed in 1798 may celebrate today as their founding, but a committee in a tavern formed this group 23 years earlier.
The Continental Marines through a resolution by the Second Continental Congress were formed by Captain Samuel Nicholas. A committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern. The tavern, later destroyed by fire in 1781, was once located between Walnut and Chestnut Street east of front street. A site now occupied by I-95.
