The offices of the U.S. Marshal and Deputy Marshals were created more than 200 years ago by the First Congress in the Judiciary Act of 1789, the same legislation that established the Federal Judicial System.

George Washington quickly realized that there were gaps in the constitutional design of the government. There was no provision for the regional administrative structure stretching through the country. Therefore, the United States Marshals were created.

The marshals were given a great deal of authority to support the federal courts in their own judicial districts. They were also to carry out all the lawful orders of judges, Congress, or the President.

The mission of the United States Marshals Service is to protect the federal courts and ensure the effective operation of the judicial system.

The image of the Marshals Service has always been focused on the individual deputy marshal. This has been portrayed throughout history by legendary heroics in the face of lawlessness.

Since 1789, the men and the women of the U.S. Marshals Service have answered the call to service of the American people. From taking the census to protecting the president, the duties of the United States Marshal Service have changed to meet the needs of the nation.

Not only was George Washington father of our country, he was the father of American law enforcement. The words on the Declaration of Independence were utmost in his mind when President George Washington first set about to assure that the preservation of liberty and justice for all would be accomplished.

Washington knew that building a nation depends not only on the laws that define the government, but on the quality of the individuals who serve it as well. Washington was sent letters of petition by many men to fill the positions. He wrote to his newly-appointed Attorney General Edmond Randolph, a Revolutionary War hero, four days after signing the Judiciary act, Impressed with a conviction that the due administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good Government, I have considered the first arrangement of the Judicial department as essential to the happiness of our Country, and to the stability of its political system; hence the selection of the fittest characters to expound the laws, and dispense the justice, has been an invariable object of my anxious concern.

Washington carefully considered the men whom he would appoint to these important positions. Long before the bill had ever reached his desk, he had consulted with his advisors and reviewed the credentials of candidates for the newly created positions that were available. Many of the candidates Washington knew personally.

Interesting Facts

Some of the interesting facts about the elite group of men who were our first marshals are:

* Fourteen served in the military during the Revolutionary War with distinction.
By the end of the war, this distinguished group of men comprised:

One Brigadier General,
Five Colonels
Three Lieutenant Colonels
Two Majors
One Captain
The youngest was a Private.

One young man, who was too young to serve in the war, was a generals aid.

Of the two remaining:

One turned his trading ships into privateers and represented his state in the Continental Congress.

One sat on his states legislature and worked as a counselor to the Governor.

* At least seven of the sixteen lived their entire lives in the districts where they served as marshals.

* Many of the remaining nine spent several decades within the boundaries of their respective districts.

* The average age of the marshals at the time of their new appointments was 42 years.

* The youngest marshal was only 25 and the eldest 56.

* They remained in office an average of approximately six years; however, this tenure ranged from one year to twenty years.

* After leaving office, five of the marshals transferred to more lucrative posts in the federal government.

* One went on to become the Secretary of War under President Thomas Jefferson.

* Three became congressmen.

* Of these original sixteen, one was killed in the line of duty, one died of disease while serving as a marshal, and the remainder retired to their private affairs when their tenure ended.

* The descendents of these men included a Supreme Court Justice, a Civil War General, and a Secretary of State.

* Before being appointed by Washington, at least two of these men had some law enforcement experience, one was a Sheriff and one was a Marshal of the Admiralty Courts established by the Second Continental Congress shortly after the outbreak of the Revolution.

* One of the Marshals was a doctor.

* Several others made their livings as farmers, merchants, businessmen, lawyers, and politicians.

* Regardless of their careers, the Revolutionary War disrupted all their lives and ruined the fortunes of many.

* Although most of them had recouped their losses to become once again wealthy men by the 1790s, a few never recovered, and one died in poverty.

Most of these first marshals corresponded regularly with George Washington, and many of them called him friend.

Many of these men served under Washington during the war and owed their appointments to previous associations with him.

At least five of these men were members of the Society of the Cincinnati, and one was actually a founding member. the Society of the Cincinnati was an honorary association of the veterans named for Washington's resemblance to Cincinnatus, the famous Roman farmer turned soldier.

The few who did not personally know George Washington depended on references from friends for their appointments.

To sum up these original sixteen United States Marshals, there is just one wordpatriots. These men helped establish the new judicial system and the new federal government for a new country on a firm foundation based on local ties and affiliations.