United States Marine Corps Birthday2026 · Date · History
Official Marine Corps history establishes November 10, 1775 as the Corps birthday, Major Edwin McClellan’s 1921 proposal, and Commandant John A. Lejeune’s Marine Corps Order No. 47 directing annual November 10 commemoration. Current Commandant birthday messages continue the tradition. It is a Marine Corps institutional observance, not a general civilian public holiday.
About United States Marine Corps Birthday
The United States Marine Corps Birthday is observed on November 10, marking the date in 1775 when the Second Continental Congress authorized two battalions of Marines.
Modern formal commemoration dates to 1921, when Commandant John A. Lejeune issued Marine Corps Order No. 47 directing that a birthday message be read to commands on November 10 each year.
Why United States Marine Corps Birthday matters
The birthday is an institutional tradition of the Marine Corps, connecting serving Marines, veterans and units with the Corps’ history and customs.
It is not a general U.S. civilian public holiday. Birthday balls, cake-cutting ceremonies and command observances are Marine Corps traditions rather than nationwide closure rules.
History of United States Marine Corps Birthday
The Continental Congress resolved on November 10, 1775 that two battalions of Marines be raised.
Before 1921, the Corps birthday had often been associated with July 11, the 1798 date on which President John Adams approved legislation recreating the Corps.
On October 21, 1921, Maj. Edwin McClellan proposed returning the birthday to November 10. Commandant John A. Lejeune issued Marine Corps Order No. 47 on November 1, 1921 and directed annual reading of the birthday message on November 10.
Current Commandant birthday messages continue the annual institutional tradition.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
July 11 Marine Corps birthday commemoration
Marine Corps Order No. 47 restored November 10 as the official birthday date for annual commemoration.
Major Edwin N. McClellan, Historical Section, Headquarters Marine Corps
Official Marine Corps history says McClellan proposed on 21 October 1921 that 10 November 1775 be declared the Marine Corps birthday/holiday.
Commandant of the Marine Corps, Major General John A. Lejeune
Marine Corps Order No. 47 (Series 1921)
First documented observance
Order No. 47 directed the message to be read on 10 November 1921 and on 10 November every year thereafter.
United States Marine Corps / Commandant of the Marine Corps
Current birthday messages and Marine Corps-wide celebrations continue the institutional tradition.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
1 field not established in reviewed sources
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
Also known as
Marine Corps Birthday
How to Observe United States Marine Corps Birthday
Read Marine Corps Order No. 47 and current Commandant birthday messages from official Marine Corps sources.
Attend a recognized Marine Corps birthday ball or unit ceremony if invited and follow local protocol.
Learn about Marine Corps history from the Marine Corps History Division or other official military archives.
Honor service respectfully without assuming the observance creates civilian office, school or business closures.
United States Marine Corps Birthday Facts
The Marine Corps Birthday is November 10.
The date refers to the Continental Congress action of November 10, 1775.
Formal annual commemoration was standardized in 1921 through Marine Corps Order No. 47.
Maj. Edwin McClellan proposed the November 10 birthday observance to Commandant John A. Lejeune.
The Corps had previously commemorated July 11 in connection with the 1798 re-establishment of the Marine Corps.
The birthday is a Marine Corps institutional observance, not a general federal public holiday.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune — birthday history (opens in a new tab)
Government Military History
Marine Corps University History Division — Marine Corps Birthday Message / Order No. 47 (opens in a new tab)
Government Military History
Commandant of the Marine Corps — 250th USMC Birthday Message (opens in a new tab)
Government Military Current
U.S. Office of Personnel Management — federal holidays (opens in a new tab)
Federal Government Boundary
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is United States Marine Corps Birthday?
10 November annually The documented recurrence rule is: 10 November.
Does United States Marine Corps Birthday fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is United States Marine Corps Birthday an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States Marine Corps / worldwide Marine Corps community institutional birthday observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes United States Marine Corps Birthday?
The reviewed sources identify Commandant of the Marine Corps, Major General John A. Lejeune as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Major Edwin N. McClellan, Historical Section, Headquarters Marine Corps. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as United States Marine Corps / Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Is United States Marine Corps Birthday international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: United States Marine Corps / worldwide Marine Corps community institutional birthday observance. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-04.
When is the Marine Corps Birthday?
It is observed annually on November 10.
Why November 10?
November 10, 1775 is the date the Second Continental Congress resolved to raise two battalions of Marines.
When did the modern annual tradition begin?
Formal annual commemoration was established in 1921 when Commandant John A. Lejeune issued Marine Corps Order No. 47.
Was the Marine Corps birthday ever observed on another date?
Yes. Marine Corps history records that July 11, tied to the 1798 re-establishment of the Corps, was commemorated before the 1921 return to November 10.
Is November 10 a general federal public holiday?
No. It is an institutional Marine Corps birthday observance; general federal holidays are governed separately.
Other observances on November 10
These observances are also listed on November 10, 2026.
International Accounting Day
The Accounting Day organization identifies November 10 as International Accounting Day, and U.S. government/professional sources also recognize the date.
Marine Corps Birthday
The U.S. Marine Corps states that Marines around the world celebrate the birth of the Corps each year on 10 November.
World Science Day for Peace and Development
UNESCO 31 C/Resolution 20