There is not much information regarding the flags carried by early American Marines. It is believed that on 3 March 1776, Captain Samuel Nicholas carried ashore the Grand Union Flag on New Providence Island.

It is believed that Captain Nicholas may have carried the Gadsden flag (shown on right) on this expedition.

The standard Marines carried during the 1830s and 1840s had a white field with gold fringe and bore an elaborate design of an anchor and eagle in the center. In the legend of this flag were the words, "To the Shores of Tripoli" across the top. After the Mexican-American War, it was modified to read: "From Tripoli to the Halls of the Montezumas."

During the Mexican and Civil Wars, Marines in the field carried a flag similar to the national flag, consisting of red and white stripes and a union. The union, however, contained an eagle perched on a shield of the United States and a half-wreath beneath the shield, with 29 stars encircling the entire design.

In 1876, Marines carried the the Stars and Stripes with "U.S. Marine Corps" embroidered in yellow on the middle red stripe.

In 1914, a more distinctive standard was carried consisting of a blue field with a laurel wreath encircling the Marine Corps emblem in the center. A scarlet ribbon above the emblem carried the words "U.S. Marine Corps," while another scarlet ribbon below the emblem carried the motto "Semper Fidelis."

A similar flag was used by the United States Marine Corps 4th Regiment called "Old Blue." When the regiment's colors were changed to scarlet and gold, Marines were ordered to burn the old flag. One Marine was unable to do so and hid a flag in his sea bag. He died in the line of duty in China, but the flag, the only known one of its kind, survived.

In April of 1925 gold and scarlet was designated as the official colors of the United States Marine Corps. These colors, however, were not reflected in the official Marine Corps standard until 18 January 1939, when a new design utilizing the new official colors was approved. The design was essentially that of today's Marine Corps standard.