Jacob Zeilin
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Jacob Zeilin (July 16, 1806 – November 18, 1880) was an American military officer who served as the seventh
Commandant of the United States Marine Corps The commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) is normally the highest-ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps. It is a four-star general position and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Joint Chiefs of Staff: composition; functions. The ...
from 1864 to 1876. He served in the
United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...
for over 45 years including in the
Mexican-American War Mexican Americans are Americans of full or partial Mexican descent. In 2022, Mexican Americans comprised 11.2% of the US population and 58.9% of all Hispanic and Latino Americans. In 2019, 71% of Mexican Americans were born in the United State ...
, the
Perry Expedition ] The Perry Expedition (, , "Arrival of the Black Ships") was a diplomatic and military expedition in two separate voyages (1852–1853 and 1854–1855) to the Tokugawa shogunate () by warships of the United States Navy. The goals of this expedit ...
, and the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
. He was a brigadier general and led the Marine Corps in the post-Civil War era during governmental defunding of the military. His efforts resulted in the Marines remaining a separate branch of the United States military.


Early life and education

Zeilin was born in
Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
on July 16, 1806. He attended the
United States Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York that educates cadets for service as Officer_(armed_forces)#United_States, comm ...
from 1822 to 1825, but dropped out due to poor grades in
philosophy Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...
and
chemistry Chemistry is the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a physical science within the natural sciences that studies the chemical elements that make up matter and chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules a ...
.


Career

Zeilin was commissioned in the Marine Corps as a second lieutenant on October 1, 1831. After completing the preliminary training of a Marine officer in Washington, D.C., Zeilin's first tours of duty were ashore at the Marine Barracks, Philadelphia, and at
Gosport Gosport ( ) is a town and non-metropolitan district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Hampshire, England. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 Census, the town had a population of 70,131 and the district had a pop ...
, Virginia. He first went to sea on board the sloop of war in March 1832, which was followed by a tour of duty at Charlestown (Boston), Massachusetts. In August 1834, he again joined the sloop ''Erie'' for a voyage that lasted over three years. He was promoted to first lieutenant on 12 September 1836. From September 1837 to April 1841, Zeilin again served at Charlestown, Massachusetts, and New York. In February 1842, he returned to sea duty, on board the , and spent several months with the Brazil Squadron. After this tour of sea duty, he served at Marine Corps stations on the east coast from 1842 to 1845, and was transferred to duty aboard the frigate of the U.S. Pacific Squadron.


Mexican–American War

During the
Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War (Spanish language, Spanish: ''guerra de Estados Unidos-México, guerra mexicano-estadounidense''), also known in the United States as the Mexican War, and in Mexico as the United States intervention in Mexico, ...
, Zeilin commanded the Marine Detachment assigned to USS ''Congress'', which was attached to Commodore Robert F. Stockton's force. He took part in the
Conquest of California The Conquest of California, also known as the Conquest of Alta California or the California Campaign, was a military campaign during the Mexican–American War carried out by the United States in Alta California (modern-day California), then part ...
and fought in the conquest and occupation of Santa Barbara and San Pedro, as well as the Siege of Los Angeles and the Battle of La Mesa. In December 1846, he participated in the force that rescued troops under Stephen W. Kearny in the San Bernardo hills. He participated in the force led from San Diego by Stockton to decisively defeat the
Californios Californios (singular Californio) are Californians of Spaniards, Spanish descent, especially those descended from settlers of the 17th through 19th centuries before California was annexed by the United States. California's Spanish language in C ...
at the Battle of Rio San Gabriel. He was brevetted to
major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...
(two grades above his rank at the time) on January 9, 1847, for his actions in that battle. On 28 January 1847, Zeilin was appointed Military Commandant of
San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...
and served in that capacity until the completion of the conquest of California. He was promoted to the regular rank of
captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
on 14 September 1847 and served as Fleet Marine Officer of the Pacific Squadron. In September 1847, he served during the bombardment of Guaymas and the Battle of San José del Cabo. He fought in several skirmishes with Mexican troops in the
Mazatlán Mazatlán () is a city in the Mexican list of states of Mexico, state of Sinaloa. The city serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding , known as the Mazatlán Municipality. It is located on the Pacific Ocean, Pacific coast across from th ...
area.


Interwar period

After the war with Mexico, Zeilin proceeded to Norfolk, Virginia, where he served for a time, then to New York. He remained at New York until June 1852. He was selected to accompany Commodore
Matthew C. Perry Matthew Calbraith Perry (April 10, 1794 – March 4, 1858) was a United States Navy officer who commanded ships in several wars, including the War of 1812 and the Mexican–American War. He led the Perry Expedition that Bakumatsu, ended Japan' ...
as Fleet Marine Officer in the Perry Expedition to Japan, serving with the Marine Detachment in . With elaborate ceremonies, the Marines under his command took a prominent part in the expedition. He was the second person to set foot on shore at the formal landing of the naval forces at Kurihama, Yokosuka, Japan on 14 July 1853, and was one of those later accorded special honor for his part in the expedition that opened the doors of Japan to the outside world. Upon his return from Japan, he was again stationed at Norfolk. This duty was followed by his being placed in command of the Marine Barracks of the
Washington Navy Yard The Washington Navy Yard (WNY) is a ceremonial and administrative center for the United States Navy, located in the federal national capital city of Washington, D.C. (federal District of Columbia). It is the oldest shore establishment / base of ...
. He again went to sea, and served aboard the frigate , with the European Station, until 1859.


American Civil War

During the early part of the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
, Zeilin was on garrison duty in command of Marine Barracks at Philadelphia and at
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
Five days later, he was appointed to the regular rank of major. On July 21, 1861, he commanded a company of U.S. Marines during the
First Battle of Bull Run The First Battle of Bull Run, called the Battle of First Manassas
.
by Confederate States ...
and was seriously wounded. In 1863, Zeilin was given command of the battalion of U.S. Marines sent to support the naval force whose mission was the capture of
Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atla ...
, but, because of illness, he returned after a few weeks to garrison duty at Marine Barracks,
Portsmouth, New Hampshire Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census it had a population of 21,956. A historic seaport and popular summer tourist destination on ...
. Later, he returned to sea, serving with the Atlantic Blockading Squadron under Rear Admiral John Dahlgren. In 1864, Zeilin assumed command of the Marine Barracks at Portsmouth, New Hampshire.


Commandant of the Marine Corps

On June 10, 1864, he was appointed Commandant of the United States Marine Corps by President
Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...
. Gideon Wells, the Secretary of the Navy, was unhappy with the senior leadership of the Marines and promoted Zeilin above other officers of higher rank. To prevent disapproval from these officers, Wells ordered all officers with a higher rank than Zeilin into retirement. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on 2 March 1867. After the war, Brigadier General Zeilin successfully defended the Marine Corps against its critics and efforts to defund the Corps. Zeilin recommended against incorporating the Marines into the Navy and his efforts resulted in the Marines remaining a separate branch of the United States military. In 1868, Zeilin approved of the design of the "
Eagle, Globe, and Anchor The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor (commonly referred to as an EGA) is the official emblem and insignia of the United States Marine Corps. The current emblem traces its roots in the designs and ornaments of the early Continental Marines as well as the ...
," as the emblem for the Marine Corps. It replaced the previous emblem which was a bugle with a letter "M" in the middle. Zeilin retired from the Marine Corps on November 1, 1876, after serving over forty-five years as a Marine Corps officer. When considering his time at West Point, he served over 49 years in uniform.


Personal life

Zeilin married Virginia Freeman on October 22, 1845. Together they had one son, William Freeman Zeilin and two daughters, Margaret Freeman Very (wife of Edward Wilson Very) and Anne V. Stockton (wife of one of Senator John P. Stockton's sons). General Zeilin was a member of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or, simply, the Loyal Legion, is a United States military order organized on April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Union Army. The original membership was consisted ...
. On 18 November 1880, he died in Washington, D.C., and was interred in
Laurel Hill Cemetery Laurel Hill Cemetery, also called Laurel Hill East to distinguish it from the affiliated West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, Bala Cynwyd, is a historic rural cemetery in the East Falls, Philadelphia, East Falls neighborhood ...
in Philadelphia.


Legacy

*Two ships in the
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
have been named USS ''Zeilin'' in his honor: in 1920 and in 1942. *He is the namesake for Zeilin Road, on Marine Corps Base Quantico in
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
. *He is the namesake for Zeilin Street, on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in
California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
.


References

Citations Sources * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Zeilin, Jacob 1806 births 1880 deaths American military personnel of the Mexican–American War Burials at Laurel Hill Cemetery (Philadelphia) Military personnel from Philadelphia People of Pennsylvania in the American Civil War Union Marines United States Marine Corps Commandants United States Marine Corps generals