Oldest Federal Law Enforcement Agency  On September 24, President George Washington appointed the first 13 U.S. Marshals following the passage of the first Judiciary Act. 

The U.S. Marshal has historically conducted death sentences on those condemned by federal courts.

Until the creation of the Secret Service in 1865, Marshals were frequently called upon to pursue counterfeiters.

U.S. Marshals were required by Congress to take the national census every ten years.

U.S. Marshal Robert Forsyth was murdered while serving civil process on the Allen brothers.

August 4 - Supreme Court Justice James Wilson certified that the Whiskey Rebels were "too powerful to be suppressed by the powers vested in the Marshal of that district".  President Washington called out the state militia.

September 7 - The state militia marched against the Whiskey Rebels.  U.S. Marshal David Lenox rode with them and marched under the command of President Washington, the only time in American history a president has taken the field at the head of his army.

July 13 - Congress passed the Sedition Act punishing unlawful combinations against the government or publishing "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" about the government.  U.S. Marshals and Attorneys enforced the infamous law.

Upon passage of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 by Congress, U.S. Marshals enforced the Act by arresting fugitive slaves and returning them to their southern masters. Marshals were required to enforce the law.  Any negligence in doing so exposed Marshals and deputies to severe financial penalties. 

Nov. 14 - William Walker launched a military expedition against Nicaragua.  Although arrested by U.S. Marshal William Wagner (E/LA), Walker posted bail.  The expedition failed in the face of poor weather, poor organization, and British ships.

During the Civil War, U.S. Marshals confiscated property used to support the Confederacy and helped root out Confederate spies.  Lincoln and His Deputy   The Undefeated Rebel

U.S. Marshals were instrumental in keeping law and order in the "Old West" era and involved in apprehending desperadoes such as the Dalton Gang, Bill Doolin, and Ned Christie. See also:
Line of duty deaths prevalent in Old West  How much does it cost to find Billy the Kid?

U.S. Marshals assisted Internal Revenue agents (who had no arrest powers) in enforcing the whiskey tax laws.

Prisoner Custody in the 1880's

Oct. 26 - Tombstone, Arizona Territory - Marshal Virgil Earp and his deputies, brothers Wyatt and Morgan Earp, and Doctor John H. Holliday, gunned down Frank and Tom McLaury, and Billy Clanton in a vacant lot just down the street from the O.K. Corral.1881:  

The Supreme Court held that the President has power, through the Attorney General, to direct a United States Marshal to accompany and protect federal judges from a threatened assault: Judicial Protection: Cunningham vs Neagle 135 U.S. 1 (1890) ; See also In the matter of David Neagle, Deputy U.S. Marshal

During the Pullman strike, U.S. Marshals were ordered by the federal courts and the Cleveland administration to keep the trains rolling.  

July 1 - The fee system of paying Marshals was abolished.  The Marshals were put on annual salary.

Nov. 20 - Francisco Madero launched a revolution from U.S. soil against Mexican President Porfirio Diaz.  The subsequent turmoil in Mexico compelled the U.S. Marshals  to protect the  Mexican-American border.

Marshals and World War I: While American troops fought in the trenches of Europe, United States Marshals protected the home front against enemy aliens, spies, and saboteurs.

Oct. 27 - The Volstead Act activated the 18^th Amendment’s prohibition on liquor.  During Prohibition, U.S. Marshals arrested bootleggers and seized all of their equipment - cars, trucks, breweries, and warehouses.

The 18th Amendment was ratified, prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating beverages.  U.S. Marshals were the principal enforcing agents.

The Twentieth Century era of specialization left the U.S. Marshals performing fewer functions related to the courts.

Oct. 13 - U.S. Marshals were requested to run background checks on deputies.

Dec. 17 - The Executive Office of U.S. Marshals was created.

U.S. Marshals provided security to enforce federal laws and orders related to civil rights. After riots erupted over James Meredith's enrollment at Ole Miss in 1962, teams of deputies protected him 24 hours a day for an entire year. In a similar circumstance, Ruby Bridges was also provided U.S. Marshals protection when she was one of the first students to integrate the New Orleans public schools. 

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) was established as a headquarters organization, overseeing the district U.S. Marshals.  Former agency leaders

The Witness Security Program was established as a division within the USMS after the passage of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970.   The Special Operations Group (SOG) was established to provide a well trained, self-sufficient, mobile group of deputies capable of responding anywhere within the United States and its territories within a few hours of receiving an activation order.

Marshals and FBI agents contained the unrest at Wounded Knee, South Dakota.

The USMS assumed the responsibility for the apprehension of federal fugitives. The capture of Christopher Boyce was the first high profile fugitive arrested by the Marshals after their fugitive responsibilities were expanded to include escapees from federal prison facilities.

The first of the Fugitive Investigation Strike Team (FIST operations) was established to operate as a multi-agency task force to apprehend federal, state, and local fugitives.

The closing of the Panama Canal Zone Marshals Service Office.  In cooperation with the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, established the Court Security Officer Program.

Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984

U.S. Marshals assumed the responsibility for managing and disposing of properties seized and forfeited by federal law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorneys nationwide.

Marshals Service acquired its first Boeing 727 used for prisoner transportation. 

U.S. Marshals celebrated 200 years of service to the United States.  Official U.S. Law Enforcement entity in Antarctica

U.S. Marshals assumed the responsibility for the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS), which merged the air fleets of the USMS and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

Marshals Protect Clinics and Doctors - As a result of the bombings and threats against abortion clinics, U.S. Marshals were responsible for protecting the clinics and doctors.

U.S. Marshals provided security for the Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols trials, convicted of bombing the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

Investigative Presence in Mexico - U.S. Marshals established a foreign investigative presence in the U.S. Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico.

U.S. Marshals completed the largest fugitive apprehension operation in American history. Through Operation FALCON (“Federal And Local Cops Organized Nationally”), which was conducted April 4–10, 2005, Deputy U.S. Marshals and their law enforcement partners arrested a total of 10,340 fugitives and cleared more than 13,800 felony warrants.

Operation FALCON II April 17- 23, 2006 - U.S. Marshals coordinated with federal, state, city and county law enforcement agencies in a massive fugitive dragnet.  Read More

Operation FALCON III - Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally - A massive fugitive operation took place the week of October 22- 28, 2006 and covered the eastern half of the United States.  As a cooperative effort, Operation FALCON III removed some of the country’s most dangerous sex offenders and gang members from the streets.

Fugitive Safe Surrender was authorized by Congress in July 2006.  The program is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation.  A unique, creative, and highly successful initiative that encourages persons wanted for non-violent felony or misdemeanor crimes to voluntarily surrender to the law in a faith-based or other neutral setting. 

 
FALCON 2007 focused on gang members and gang activity in targeted urban areas.

FALCON 2008 - In June 2008, the U.S. Marshals teamed with its partners from federal, state, and local law enforcement to engage in the record-breaking Operation FALCON 2008.  This represented the fifth effort in a continuing series of historically successful national fugitive apprehension missions, and resulted in the collective capture of more than 55,800 dangerous fugitive felons. 

A Visit to Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Helen Crawford, Retired - At age 100, Helen Crawford still prides her long career with the U.S. Marshals. On July 14, 2008, from the sitting room at an assisted living facility, Bonner Place in Jacksonville, Texas, she related the most exciting of times.  ** Ms. Helen V. Crawford passed on June 29, 2010, just two weeks shy of her 102^nd birthday.  Representing the Eastern District of Texas at the service was former U.S. Marshal John Moore and former Chief Deputy David Sligh.  She was interred at Cathedral in the Pines, Beaumont, Texas.  She was an original and will be greatly missed.