Captain William Shippin was the first Marine killed in combat in our Corps’ history. He was one of the 44 Americans who died during the Battle of Princeton on this day in 1777. All Marines should know his name, the first of the over 41,000 Marines who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our republic.

Shippin was the captain of the privateer “Hancock” in 1776, but he served ashore with the small Marine brigade at Princeton. He is buried at Saint Peter’s Episcopal Churchyard in Philadelphia. Honor and remember him!