First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry will celebrate its 250th birthday in November, writes Brad Rhen for DVIDS.

The unit was formed on November 17, 1774 — three weeks after Philadelphia hosted the First Continental Congress — under the name, Philadelphia Light Horse.

“It’s the oldest continuously mounted unit in the United States Army, so this is the seed germ for all armor and cavalry,” said Dennis Boylan, an honorary captain who served as the troop’s commander in the 1980s.

The unit lives on as a unique organization connected to the Pennsylvania National Guard. While it is primarily a ceremonial organization, only A Troop, 1st Squadron, and 104th Cavalry Regiment members are eligible to join it.

The first 28 members of the unit were mostly members of the Gloucester Fox Hunting Club. Others represented other Philadelphia-area organizations, including The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and the Colony in Schuylkill.

Troop members served with distinction throughout the Revolutionary War and took part in every U.S. conflict. One of their first significant missions was to ensure Gen. George Washington made it safely from Philadelphia to New York on his way to Boston, where he took command of the Continental Army.

Today, the troop has around 58 active members.

Read more about First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry and its rich 250-year history in DVIDS.

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