- Although some like to allude to and rely upon Tun Tavern as a prop, the Tun Tavern story is, in fact, false, and to be relegated to the trash heap along with the 'bloodstripes" story, etc.
Re
"The first Marine recruiting station was established in Tun Tavern, in Philadelphia, the proprietor of which was so adept at securing recruits, by liberally plying them with drink, that he was made a captain in the Marine Corps. Alas, for "romance," the story is untrue. It probably got its start from the fact that Samuel Nicholas, effevtively the first Marine Commandant, actually did own a tavern in Philadelphia, the Conestoga Wagon, which apparently served as his headquarters for a time. However the owner of the Tun Tavern did become a Marine officer, about a year after the creation of the Corps, which probably gave rise to the legend."
Re Marine Corps Book Of Lists, by Albert A. Nofi, Combined Publishing, 1999; etc.
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