U.S. Marine, 1798

The United States Marine Corps we know today was established formally on 11 July 1798. The first official uniform issued to the men were actually surplus uniforms from the small U.S. Army. A special short jacket had been designed and issued to the rifleman of the Legion of the United States under Major General Anthony Wayne but when they were later reorganized into regular infantry regiments in 1796, these flank company uniforms were discontinued. The thrifty government of the period seized the opportunity to reuse these uniforms for the newly formed United States Marines. The first uniform specifically designed for the marines was introduced in 1805.