View source for Jacob Zeilin

{{short description|United States Marine Corps general (1806-1880)}}

{{Infobox military person
| name          = Jacob Zeilin
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1806|07|16}}
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|1880|11|18|1806|07|16}}
| birth_place   = [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_place   = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
| placeofburial = {{Nowrap|[[Laurel Hill Cemetery]]}}, [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| placeofburial_label = Place of burial
| image         = Jacob A. Zeilin.jpg
| nickname      = 
| allegiance    = {{flagu|United States|1865}}
| branch        = {{Flag|United States Marine Corps|1914}}
| serviceyears  = 1831–1876
| rank          = [[File:US-O7 insignia.svg|25px]] [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier general]]
| commands      = [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant of the Marine Corps]]
| unit          = 
| battles       = {{Tree list}}
*[[Mexican–American War]]
**[[Battle of Rio San Gabriel]]
**[[Siege of Los Angeles]]
**[[Battle of La Mesa]]
**[[Bombardment of Guaymas]]
**[[Battle of San José del Cabo]]
*[[American Civil War]]
**[[First Battle of Bull Run]]{{WIA}}
**[[Second Battle of Charleston Harbor]]
**[[Atlantic Blockading Squadron]]
{{Tree list/end}}
| awards        = 
| laterwork     = 
| signature     = Appletons' Zeilin Jacob signature.jpg
| signature_alt = 
| signature_size = 130
}}
'''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]]  from 1864 to 1876. He served in the [[United States Marine Corps]] for over 45 years including in the [[Mexican–American War|Mexican-American War]], the [[Perry Expedition]], and the [[American Civil War]]. 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]] on July 16, 1806. He attended the [[United States Military Academy]] from 1822 to 1825,<ref name="zeilin2">{{Cite book|last=Millett|first=Allan Reed |author2=Jack Shulimson|title=Commandants of the Marine Corps|publisher=US Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, MD|year=2004|pages=85–96|isbn=0-87021-012-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qns8bW_SESYC&q=Jacob+Zeilin++military+academy&pg=PA88}}</ref> but dropped out due to poor grades in [[philosophy]] and [[chemistry]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Nofi|first1=Albert|title=The Marine Corps Book of Lists|date=1997|publisher=Hachette Books|isbn=9780938289890|page=144 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Marine_Corps_Book_Of_Lists/BuuEswEACAAJ|access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>

==Career==
Zeilin was commissioned in the Marine Corps as a [[Second Lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]] on October 1, 1831.<ref name=Appletons/> 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, Pennsylvania)|Marine Barracks, Philadelphia]], and at [[Norfolk Naval Shipyard|Gosport]], Virginia. He first went to sea on board the sloop of war {{USS|Erie|1813|2}} in March 1832, which was followed by a tour of duty at [[Boston Navy Yard|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.<ref name="zeilin2" />

From September 1837 to April 1841, Zeilin again served at Charlestown, Massachusetts, and [[Brooklyn Navy Yard|New York]]. In February 1842, he returned to sea duty, on board the {{USS|Columbus|1819|6}}, 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 {{USS|Congress|1841|6}} of the U.S. [[Pacific Squadron]].<ref name="USMC History">{{cite web|title=Brigadier General Jacob Zeilin, USMC (deceased)|url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/People/Whos-Who-in-Marine-Corps-History/Young-Zion/Brigadier-General-Jacob-Zeilin/|publisher=United States Marine Corps History Division|access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref>

===Mexican–American War===
During the [[Mexican–American War]], 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]] and fought in the conquest and occupation of [[History of Santa Barbara, California#Mexican–American War|Santa Barbara]] and [[San Pedro, Los Angeles|San Pedro]],{{sfn|Leatherneck Association|1956|p=69}} as well as the [[Siege of Los Angeles]] and the [[Battle of La Mesa]].<ref name=Appletons /> 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]] at the [[Battle of Río San Gabriel|Battle of Rio San Gabriel]]. He was brevetted to [[Major (United States)|major]] (two grades above his rank at the time) on January 9, 1847, for his actions in that battle.{{sfn|Leatherneck Association|1956|p=69}}

On 28 January 1847, Zeilin was appointed Military Commandant of [[San Diego]] and served in that capacity until the completion of the conquest of California. He was promoted to the regular rank of [[Captain (United States O-3)|captain]] on 14 September 1847 and served as Fleet Marine Officer of the Pacific Squadron.<ref name="USMC History" /> 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]] area.<ref name=Appletons>{{cite Appletons'|wstitle= Zeilin, Jacob |volume = VI |pages= 657-658 |short= 1}}</ref>

===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]] as Fleet Marine Officer in the Perry Expedition to Japan, serving with the Marine Detachment in {{USS|Mississippi|1841|6}}.  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.<ref name="USMC History"/>

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]]. He again went to sea, and served aboard the frigate {{USS|Wabash|1855|2}}, with the [[European Squadron|European Station]], until 1859.<ref name="USMC History"/>

===American Civil War===
During the early part of the [[American Civil War]], Zeilin was on garrison duty in command of Marine Barracks at Philadelphia and at [[Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.|Washington, D.C.]] 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]] and was seriously wounded.{{sfn|Simmons|2003|p=53}}

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]], but, because of illness, he returned after a few weeks to garrison duty at [[Portsmouth Naval Shipyard|Marine Barracks]], [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]].  Later, he returned to sea, serving with the [[Atlantic Blockading Squadron]] under Rear Admiral [[John A. Dahlgren|John Dahlgren]]. In 1864, Zeilin assumed command of the Marine Barracks at Portsmouth, New Hampshire.<ref name="USMC History"/>

===Commandant of the Marine Corps===
On June 10, 1864, he was appointed Commandant of the United States Marine Corps by President [[Abraham Lincoln]].{{sfn|Simmons|2003|p=56}} [[Gideon Welles|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.{{sfn|Leatherneck Association|1956|p=70}} He was promoted to the rank of [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]] on 2 March 1867.<ref name="USMC History"/>

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.{{sfn|Leatherneck Association|1956|p=71}} In 1868, Zeilin approved of the design of the "[[Eagle, Globe, and Anchor]]," as the emblem for the Marine Corps.<ref name="USMC History"/> It replaced the previous emblem which was a bugle with a letter "M" in the middle.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/Information-for-Units/Shoulder-Patches-In-WWII/Marine-Corps-Emblem-and-Seal/|title=Marine Corps Emblem and Seal|publisher=United States Marine Corps History Division|access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref>

Zeilin retired from the Marine Corps on November 1, 1876, after serving over forty-five years as a Marine Corps officer.<ref name="USMC History"/> When considering his time at West Point, he served over 49 years in uniform.<ref name=Obit/>

==Personal life==
Zeilin married Virginia Freeman on October 22, 1845.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Tucker|first1=George Holbert|title=Abstracts from Norfolk city marriage bonds (1797-1850) and other genealogical data|date=2001|publisher=Reprinted for Clearfield Co. by Genealogical Pub. Co.|location=Baltimore, Md.|isbn=9780806351155|page=179|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cDAacwmaVZIC|access-date=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Laas|first1=Virginia Jeans|last2=Cornish|first2=Dudley Taylor|title=Wartime Washington: The Civil War Letters of Elizabeth Blair Lee|date=1999|publisher=University of Illinois Press|location=Chicago|isbn=9780252068591|page=469|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ONDIl4c3da4C|access-date=29 December 2015}}</ref> 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).<ref name=Obit>{{cite journal|title=Death of Gen. Zeilin|journal=Army and Navy Journal and Gazette|date=1881|volume=18|page=314|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lmhFAQAAMAAJ|access-date=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Not a Dime for her Husband|url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87062244/1895-01-31/ed-1/seq-6/|access-date=29 December 2015|work=The Washington Times|date=January 31, 1895|location=Washington, DC|page=6}}</ref>

General Zeilin was a member of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the [[Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States]].

[[File:Jacob Zeilin Memorial.jpg|thumb|Jacob Zeilin Memorial in [[Laurel Hill Cemetery]]]]
On 18 November 1880, he died in Washington, D.C.,<ref name=Obit/> and was interred in [[Laurel Hill Cemetery]] in Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yaster |first1=Carol |last2=Wolgemuth |first2=Rachel |title=Laurel Hill Cemetery' |date=2017 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |page=69 |isbn=9781467126557 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=znEuDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA69}}</ref>

==Legacy==
*Two ships in the [[United States Navy]] have been named [[USS Zeilin|USS ''Zeilin'']] in his honor: {{USS|Zeilin|DD-313}} in 1920<ref>{{cite web |title=Zeilin I (Destroyer No. 313) 1920-1930 |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/z/zeilin-i.html |website=www.history.navy.mil |publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref> and {{USS|Zeilin|AP-9}} in 1942.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zeilin II (AP-9) 1942-1946 |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/z/zeilin-ii.html |website=www.history.navy.mil |publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
*He is the namesake for Zeilin Road, on [[Marine Corps Base Quantico]] in [[Virginia]].
*He is the namesake for Zeilin Street, on [[Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton]] in [[California]].

==References==
{{Marine Corps}}

'''Citations'''
{{Reflist|2}}

'''Sources'''
* {{cite book
  | last = Leatherneck Association
  | year = 1956
  | title = Home of the Commandants: 801 "G" St., S.E., Washington, D.C.
  | url = https://www.google.com/books/edition/Home_of_the_Commandants/J6kMAQAAMAAJ
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Simmons
  | first = Edwin H.
  | year = 2003
  | title = The United States Marines: A History, Fourth Edition
  | publisher = Naval Institute Press
  | url = https://archive.org/details/unitedstatesmari0000simm_r8b9/mode/2up
  }}

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{{Succession box | before = Col. [[John Harris (USMC)|John Harris]] | title = [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps]] | years = 1864–1876 | after = Col. [[Charles G. McCawley]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{US Marine Corps navbox}}
{{CMC}}

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