Navy Birthday
Mark the Navy Birthday on October 13, the date the Second Continental Congress authorized the first ships of the Continental Navy in 1775. The modern U.S. Navy keeps that day as its official birthday — a heritage date for sailors, families, and anyone who wants the founding story straight.
About Navy Birthday
History & origins
The Navy Birthday falls on October 13. It is a U.S. military heritage date, not a federal public holiday.
On 13 October 1775 the Continental Congress resolved to fit out a swift sailing vessel of ten carriage guns, with a committee to estimate the cost, and then resolved that a second vessel be fitted for the same purpose: intercepting British transports carrying stores. That action is the Navy’s official origin. The service that followed was the Continental Navy. Over the Revolutionary War it numbered on the order of fifty ships in total, with far fewer active at any one time. After independence, Congress sold the surviving ships. The Constitution gave Congress power “to provide and maintain a navy.” In 1794 Congress ordered six frigates; the Department of the Navy was established on 30 April 1798.
The birthday as an annual Navy-wide commemoration is more recent. In 1972, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr., designated 13 October as the Navy’s official birthday and directed that it be marked to strengthen pride in naval heritage. It is one of two Navy-wide dates the CNO has treated as standing annual observances.
Do not confuse it with Marine Corps Birthday (10 November 1775), with Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day (the second Monday in October — 12 October in 2026), or with Navy Day, an older civilian date once kept on 27 October.
Why it matters
The United States has a navy because a revolutionary congress decided it needed ships, then had to rebuild that force from almost nothing after the war. The birthday is for sailors and veterans, and for a public that often only notices the Navy when a carrier is in the news. It is a heritage day, not a recruiting jingle.
How to celebrate
Thank a sailor, Navy veteran, or Navy family. Visit a Navy museum, historic ship, or Navy Memorial if you can. Read the 13 October 1775 resolution instead of a movie version of the founding. Fly a flag. If you are in the service, follow command guidance for the birthday ball or ceremony. Keep the day distinct from the Marine Corps Birthday in November.
Facts
- The Continental Congress authorized the first two armed vessels on 13 October 1775
- After the Revolutionary War, the remaining Continental Navy ships were sold
- Congress ordered six frigates in 1794; the Department of the Navy was created 30 April 1798
- Admiral Elmo Zumwalt designated 13 October as the official Navy Birthday in 1972
- Marine Corps Birthday is a separate date, 10 November 1775
Upcoming dates
- Tuesday, October 13, 2026
- Wednesday, October 13, 2027
- Friday, October 13, 2028
- Saturday, October 13, 2029
- Sunday, October 13, 2030
Frequently asked questions
When is Navy Birthday in 2026?
Navy Birthday in 2026 falls on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
What is the Navy Birthday?
It is the U.S. Navy’s official heritage date, tied to 13 October 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized the first ships of the Continental Navy. It is not a federal day off.
Who started the Navy Birthday?
The Continental Congress created the Continental Navy in 1775. The annual Navy-wide birthday commemoration was designated in 1972 by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr.
How do you celebrate the Navy Birthday?
Thank a sailor or Navy veteran, visit a Navy museum or historic ship, or read the 1775 resolution. Commands hold their own ceremonies; civilians can mark the date without treating it as a party.
Is the Navy Birthday an official holiday?
It is the Navy’s official birthday, observed inside the service. It is not a U.S. federal holiday. In 2026 it falls the day after Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Monday, October 12), which is the federal holiday that week.
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