Commandants of the Marine Corps

The office of Commandant of the United States Marine Corps was first filled by Major Samuel Nicholas. (Warrant below is that which granted him office.) 1775-1781.

Originally, the Commandant was only consulted on those matters which directly impacted the Marines. However, he now sits as a full and equal member of the Joint Chiefs Of Staff. The Commandant of the Marine Corps was the first officer of the U.S. Naval Service whose commission was ratified by congress. Listed below in order are the men who have held this office since the birth of the Corps.

 


Major Samuel Nicholas
1775-1781
LtCol William Burrows
1798-1804
LtCol Franklin Wharton
1804-1818

 
LtCol Anthony Gale (No likeness avail.) 1819-1820 Col Archibald Henderson
1820-1859
Col John Harris
1859-1864

BGen Jacob Zeilin
1864-1876
Col Charles McCawley
1876-1891
MGen Charles Heywood
1891-1903

MGen George Elliott
1903-1910
MGen William Biddle
1911-1914
MGen George Barnett
1914-1920

Mgen John Lejeune
1920-1929
MGen Wendell Neville
1929-1930
MGen Ben Fuller
1930-1934

MGen John Russell
1934-1936
LtGen Thomas Holcomb
1936-1943
Gen Alexander Vandegrift
1944-1947

Gen Clifton Cates
1948-195
Gen Lemuel Shepherd Jr.
1952-1955
Gen Randolph Pate
1956-1959

Gen David Shoup
1960-1963
Gen Wallace Greene Jr.
1964-1967
Gen Leonard Chapman Jr.
1968-1971

Gen Robert Cushman Jr.
1972-1975
Gen Louis Wilson
1975-1979
Gen Robert Barrow
1979-1983

Gen Paul Kelly
1983-1987
Gen Alfred M. Gray
1987 -1990
Gen Carl E. Mundy, Jr.
1991-1994
 
Gen Chuck Krulak
1994-1999
Gen James L. Jones
1999-