Question: what was the marine corps motto before semper fidelis
Answer: There were three mottos prior to Semper Fidelis including Fortitudine ( meaning `` with courage '' ) antedating the War of 1812 , Per Mare , Per Terram ( `` by sea , by land '' ; presumably inherited from the British Royal Marines , who have that as a motto ) , and , up until 1843 , there was also the Marines ' Hymn motto `` To the Shores of Tripoli '' .