Corps of Colonial Marines
| Corps of Colonial Marines | |
|---|---|
| Active |
First Corps: |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 His Majesty's Naval Service
|
| Type | Marine Infantry |
| Size | |
| Garrison/HQ |
First Corps: |
| Patron | Sir Alexander Cochrane |
| Engagements |
Second Corps: |
First Corps:
1808–1815
Second Corps:
First Corps:
Guadeloupe
Second Corps:
Tangier Island/Cumberland Island
Negro Fort
Second Corps:
Battle of Bladensburg
Burning of Washington
Battle of North Point
The Corps of Colonial Marines were two Marine units raised from former slaves for service in the Americas by the British at the behest of Alexander Cochrane. The units were created at two different times, and were later disbanded once the military threat had disappeared. Apart from being instigated in each case by Cochrane they had no connection with each other.
The first Corps was a small unit that served in the Caribbean from 1808 to 12 October 1810, recruited from former slaves to address the shortage of military manpower in the Caribbean. The locally-recruited men were less susceptible to tropical illnesses than were troops sent from Britain. The Corps followed the practice of the British Army's West India Regiments in recruiting slaves as soldiers.
The second, more substantial, Corps served from 18 May 1814 until 20 August 1816. The greater part of the Corps was stationed on the Atlantic coast, with a smaller body occupying a fort on the Gulf coast in Florida. Recruits were accepted from among escaped slaves who had already gained their freedom on coming into British hands and who were unwilling to join West India Regiments. The establishment of the force sparked controversy at the time, the arming of former slaves representing a psychological threat to the slave-owning society of the Americas). As a consequence, the two senior officers of the Corps in Florida (George Woodbine and Edward Nicolls) were demonised in Niles' Register for their association with the Corps and inducing slave revolt.
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Wikipedia