Civil War Union Marine Corps Officer. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, but did not graduate. He entered United States Marine Corps in 1831 as a 2nd Lieutenant, and served on various ship and Marine posts until the Mexican War, when he was attached to the USS Congress of the Pacific Squadron. Participated in Marine landings in Mexico and California, fighting in the Battle of La Mesa, and winning a brevet of Major for his gallantry at San Gabriel River. Promoted Captain in 1847, he then served as fleet marine officer with Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry in the East Indies, and commanded the Marine battalion that participated in the opening of Japan. In the Civil War, he commanded a four company Marine detachment at the July 1861 First Battle of Bull Run, where he was wounded in the Federal rout. He later commanded Marines in the 1863 Charleston, South Carolina operations under Rear Admiral John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren. When previous Commandant Colonel John Harris died in May 1864, Jacob Zeilin was promoted Colonel in 1864, he was appointed as the 7th Marine Corps Commandant, a post he held through the end of the conflict, and until his retirement in 1876. Promoted Brigadier General in 1874, he became the first Marine Corps officer to achieve that rank.
Civil War Union Marine Corps Officer. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, but did not graduate. He entered United States Marine Corps in 1831 as a 2nd Lieutenant, and served on various ship and Marine posts until the Mexican War, when he was attached to the USS Congress of the Pacific Squadron. Participated in Marine landings in Mexico and California, fighting in the Battle of La Mesa, and winning a brevet of Major for his gallantry at San Gabriel River. Promoted Captain in 1847, he then served as fleet marine officer with Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry in the East Indies, and commanded the Marine battalion that participated in the opening of Japan. In the Civil War, he commanded a four company Marine detachment at the July 1861 First Battle of Bull Run, where he was wounded in the Federal rout. He later commanded Marines in the 1863 Charleston, South Carolina operations under Rear Admiral John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren. When previous Commandant Colonel John Harris died in May 1864, Jacob Zeilin was promoted Colonel in 1864, he was appointed as the 7th Marine Corps Commandant, a post he held through the end of the conflict, and until his retirement in 1876. Promoted Brigadier General in 1874, he became the first Marine Corps officer to achieve that rank.
Bio by: RPD2
Inscription
Brig. Gen. U.S. Marine Corps
MY FLESH AND MY HEART FAILETH BUT GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART AND MY PORTION FOREVER
Family Members
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