Marine uniform?

[Mike Serpa]

This LOC photo (#04987) is identified as "Maj. Cunningham." Is he a Marine?

 

[Klaudly]

It can be, in the first photo, the color gold on collar and cuff is very light in black and white:

while in the second it is very dark, like the photo you showed:

but the trousers do not have a side strip.

 

[Mike Serpa]

Thanks. Hoping some others will add their opinions.

 

[James N.]

Those are not the epaulettes of an officer - they seem to be of worsted wool like an enlisted man or NCO and are certainly not officer's gold bullion; does anyone know if Marine enlisted men wore epaulettes in full dress?.

 

[Schwallanscher]

not a marine but kgb

 

[Northern Light]

not a marine but kgb

Well he does look like he's choking, just like the marine.

 

[Jimklag]

not a marine but kgb

Maybe NKVD. or GRU.

 

[AndyHall]

I did not find any Marine officer named Cunningham in the U.S. Naval Register.

https://www.history.navy.mil/resear...775-1900/marine-corps-officers-1798-1900.html

 

[AndyHall]

Those DO look like Marine Corps buttons.

 

[67th Tigers]

He's a Paymaster, Francis A. Cunningham.

 

[67th Tigers]

Majors, and paymasters "ranked as majors" wore no rank insignia on their epaulettes, but wore the same epaulettes as all officers above major. Captains and below wore a different pattern. In sum:

1/2" bullion
Commanding general - 3 stars
(other) major generals - 2 stars
Brig. generals - 1 star
Colonel - eagle
Lt. col. - oak leaves
Maj - no device

1/4" bullion
Captain - 2 silver bars

1/8" bullion
Lt - 1 silver bar
2Lt/ Bvt 2 Lt - no device

As a paymaster he'd wear a field officers 1/2 inch bullion on the shoulder, with no device and the letters PD for his corps.

 

[matthew mckeon]

He was unable to hide from us!

 

[Mike Serpa]

Marine buttons. A Marine paymaster. Thanks y'all!

 

[major bill]

We have some sharp people on the Uniforms & Record forum.

 

[Package4]

This LOC photo (#04987) is identified as "Maj. Cunningham." Is he a Marine?
View attachment 173118

I am wondering if this photograph is mis named? The uniform is definitely a Marine Corps Uniform of an officer and you can confirm it by blowing it up at the LOC site. Francis A Cunningham is listed as a paymaster in the US Army, with of course, the rank of Major:

Francis A. Cunningham
Residence was not listed;
Elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-ninth Congress (Ohio) (March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847)
Enlisted on 3/2/1849 as a Major.
On 3/2/1849 he was commissioned into US Army Paymaster's Dept.

He Resigned on 8/27/1863

Other Information:
born in South Carolina
died 8/16/1864 from effects of a stroke suffered 8/27/1863 while awaiting examination before AG board Wilmington, DE.

I guess he could have transferred to the Marine Corps, but as yet I could not find a record of it.​

 

[AndyHall]

Thanks, @Package4 , you summed up my thoughts, exactly. I posted the original image over on the Civil War Naval Forum FB group, and there was strong agreement that this is a Marine Corps uniform of the 1859 pattern. One person there wrote, "this is the 1859 Officer Dress Uniform for a Lieutenant. The shoulder scales and thickness of the wool tassels is also correct for the period and rank. Reference is The Civil War Uniforms of United States Marine Corps, The regulations of 1859 LtCol Cureton and David Sullivan."

I'm also thinking that the name "Cunningham" may be incorrect, which is what's causing the confusion.

 

[Package4]

Thanks, @Package4 , you summed up my thoughts, exactly. I posted the original image over on the Civil War Naval Forum FB group, and there was strong agreement that this is a Marine Corps uniform of the 1859 pattern. One person there wrote, This is the 1859 Officer Dress Uniform for a Lieutenant. The shoulder scales and thickness of the wool tassels is also correct for the period and rank. Reference is "The Civil War Uniforms of United States Marine Corps, The regulations of 1859 LtCol Cureton and David Sullivan."

I'm also thinking that the name "Cunningham" may be incorrect, which is what's causing the confusion.

You are correct, the two buttons and corresponding two "loops" of gold lace on the sleeve cuffs, indicate a rank of Lt., according to the Uniform and Dress of the United States Marine Corps.

 

[AndyHall]

I really don't know if the Marine Corps had paymaster officers of their own; the Navy actually had such officers, who I presume would've served for the Marines as well.

 

[Package4]

Marine buttons. A Marine paymaster. Thanks y'all!

I do not think that this is the Cunningham who was a Paymaster, first he is wearing a Marine Corps Lieutenant's uniform, second, Paymaster Cunningham was never in the Marine Corps and third, Paymaster Cunningham was also a Congressman, prior to his US Army service and this photo would be in every biography of the congressman and is not, in fact I cannot find a photograph or painting of Francis A. Cunningham.

Also Paymaster Cunningham would have been in his late 50's and the subject does not appear that old (born 1804).

The individual in the photograph also looks to have suffered a wound above his eye, though it could have been the result of an accident.......

I think we may never know the true identity of the subject.

 

[Mrs. V]

I really need to take a picture of my father in laws Merchant Marine uniform, circa WW2. As a costumer, I can tell you not a whole lot changes, uniform wise..and holy carp was he small! The story goes that when he enlisted they said, "You are too short, and too skinny, but you will grow"...jeebus! Father in law was quite poor, and never saw a second helping until he enlisted..and he sent money home to his parents/sibs all the time he was serving. After the war he was Navy, until he found he could not advance..then he cycled out.