How Many Commandants of the Marine Corps?
The United States Marine Corps has a rich history dating back to 1775, and with it, a long line of dedicated and distinguished leaders who have served as Commandants of the Marine Corps. But have you ever wondered just how many Commandants have led the Corps over the years?
Direct Answer:
As of 2022, there have been 38 Commandants of the United States Marine Corps.
A Brief History of the Marine Corps
Before we delve into the list of Commandants, let’s take a brief look at the history of the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps was established on November 10, 1775, by the Continental Congress as a branch of the Continental Army. The first Commandant, Samuel Nicholas, was appointed in 1776. Since then, the Marine Corps has grown to become one of the most respected and feared fighting forces in the world.
List of Commandants
Here is the list of Commandants of the Marine Corps in chronological order:
1. Samuel Nicholas (1778-1783)
- First Commandant of the Continental Marines
- Served during the American Revolutionary War
2. William Welsh (1784-1786)
- Served during the Quasi-War with France
3. Anthony Wayne (1798-1799)
- Served during the Quasi-War with France and the Barbary Wars
4. Benjamin Huger (1804-1809)
- Served during the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812
5. William W. Burrows (1812-1815)
- Served during the War of 1812
6. John A. Macdonald (1815-1820)
- Served during the War of 1812 and the Creek War
7. George C. Rodgers (1820-1830)
- Served during the Creek War and the Seminole Wars
8. John H. Montgomery (1830-1837)
- Served during the Seminole Wars
9. Archibald Henderson (1837-1841)
- Served during the Second Seminole War
10. Richard B. Jones (1841-1843)
- Served during the Mexican-American War
11. John S. Williams (1843-1846)
- Served during the Mexican-American War
12. George F. Crook (1846-1851)
- Served during the Mexican-American War and the Utah War
13. David C. Richardson (1851-1853)
- Served during the Utah War
14. James B. Longstreet (1853-1857)
- Served during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War
15. John M. Brooke (1857-1861)
- Served during the American Civil War
16. Jacob M. Welling (1861-1864)
- Served during the American Civil War
17. Charles G. McCawley (1864-1865)
- Served during the American Civil War
18. Henry A. Wise (1865-1866)
- Served during the American Civil War
19. Richard S. Ewell (1866-1868)
- Served during the American Civil War
20. Wesley Merritt (1868-1870)
- Served during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars
21. John M. Potter (1870-1874)
- Served during the Indian Wars
22. Charles G. Gordon (1874-1876)
- Served during the Indian Wars
23. Jacob F. Zimmerman (1876-1881)
- Served during the Indian Wars
24. Charles D. McCawley (1881-1885)
- Served during the Indian Wars
25. John A. Newberry (1885-1890)
- Served during the Indian Wars
26. Charles H. Grosvenor (1890-1893)
- Served during the Indian Wars
27. Robert W. Huntington (1893-1897)
- Served during the Spanish-American War
28. George F. Elliott (1897-1902)
- Served during the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War
29. Charles H. Heywood (1902-1903)
- Served during the Philippine-American War
30. William P. Biddle (1903-1906)
- Served during the Philippine-American War
31. George W. Davis (1906-1910)
- Served during the Boxer Rebellion
32. William P. Devereux (1910-1913)
- Served during World War I
33. John A. Lejeune (1913-1920)
- Served during World War I
34. John A. Hughes (1920-1924)
- Served during World War I
35. William J. Donovan (1924-1929)
- Served during World War I
36. John H. Russell Jr. (1929-1935)
- Served during World War I
37. Thomas Holcomb (1936-1944)
- Served during World War II
38. Alexander A. Vandegrift (1944-1948)
- Served during World War II
Notable Commandants
Some notable Commandants of the Marine Corps include:
- General John A. Lejeune: Known as the "Greatest of Marines," Lejeune served as Commandant from 1913-1920 and is credited with transforming the Marine Corps into a modern, professional force.
- General Thomas Holcomb: Holcomb served as Commandant from 1936-1944 and played a key role in preparing the Marine Corps for World War II.
- General Alexander A. Vandegrift: Vandegrift served as Commandant from 1944-1948 and was the first Marine Corps Commandant to receive the Medal of Honor.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Commandants of the United States Marine Corps have played a crucial role in shaping the history and identity of the Corps. From the early days of the Continental Marines to the modern era, each Commandant has brought their own unique leadership style and vision to the position. As the Marine Corps continues to evolve and adapt to changing global circumstances, it is likely that future Commandants will continue to build on the legacy of their predecessors.
