New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-22
NAVY RANKS AND GRADES.
HOW OFFICERS ARE KNOWN BY THEIR
TITLES5ORIGIN OF THE GRADES OF
ADMIRAL. COMMODORE. ETC.

tarin and the bond ISSUE has probably had more
space devoted to it In the daily newspapers in the
past ten years than the navy and no doubt the
general reader would say TO himself that he is as
we'll Informed the subject in general is an
officer Of the Navy himself 1t is true that, so far
as the ships concerned, ne or she who has read
The Tribune columns In the last decade is fairly
familiar with the dimensions of the ships OF the
Navy. materials OF .her construction the classes
TO which they belong their armament and their
movements; he or she has also, no doubt kept In
formed of the questions between the line and the
staff the reorganization bills in Congress and
ether measures for the REIMBURSEMENT Of the per-
sonnet of the service. But there comparatively
few people who familiar with rank and grade,
the definition OF these terms-he difference be-
tween them-or who practically understands the
various titles from admiral down 10 ensign. the
difference between line and staff officers. The Navy
has peculiar language peculiar customs and pc
culiar belongings for the operation OF this branch
Of the public service unites in itself the character
stics OF the professions of the sailor and the soldier
and to II is committed the high trust of maintain
ing the honor and the dignity of the nation which
Il represents in all parts OF the globe
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RANK AND GRADE.
The conventional Of the two words "rank''
and grade among naval men implies distinction
between them which Is Illustrated by saying that
while there may be several individuals OF the same
grade there be but one of given rank. For
example. 1.-The Navy Register contains the names
of six officers in the grade OF admiral. but OF
these no two are Of the same rank. The rank Is
governed by the date Of commissioners Rear-Ad-
miral George Brown. who is No. In the list
commissioned September q. 1893, while Rcar-Ad-
miral John G. Walker, who stands next below.
commissioned January %. 1894 To rank. or to take
rank Of is to be entitled precedence in matters
involving the exercise Of authority, occasions
Of ceremony.
The name admiral formerly applied TO any
large leading ship. without regard TO flag. Until
1862, officers commissioned IN the United
States Navy OF higher rank than captain. except In
1859. when In special compliment TO his services,
Charles Stewart commissioned Senior Flag
Officer" On the establishment OF the Continental
Navy, few months later. November 10. 17G.
Congress passed act that admiral shall rank
as a general a vlce-admral as "A lieutenant general;
a admiral a major general But II was not
until July ls. 1862. that act r-organizng the
Navy recognized the necessity OF the grade and
authorized the commissioning OF not more than
nine rear-admirals on the active list. and nine on
the retired reserved list. Under this law the FOL
lowing were the first appointed or tho active
list: David G. Farragut. Louis NJ. Goidsboroush.
Samuel F. Dupont, Andrew II. Foote. Charles II.
Davis, John a. Dahlgren and David u. Porter
Farragut hoisted his flag at the main Of the Hart
ford on Angus; 10. 1852: this the first admrals
flag to fy In the United States Navy. on Decem-
Der q, 1864 the grade Of vice-admiral first In
troduced into the Navy. and Farragut received that
! honorable grade In July. 1866. he was promoted 20
| the grade of admiral. and Rear-Admiral David d.
| Porter promoted TO be vice admiral Upon the
death OF Fsrragut. in August. 1870. Porter pro-
NOTED TO admiral. and Stephen c. Rowan became
vice-admiral Upon the deaths OF Porter and
Rowan the grades Of admiral and vice-a admiral
pred. that to-day the grade OF ear-admiral.
| ranking with a ma jor-genera OF the Army is tho
| highest in the Navy. A admiral may
mand squadron, naval station. or be chief OF
one of the bureaus In the Navy Department
The next grade to that OF r-admiral Is com
modore. ranking with brigadier-gon OF the
Army. and besides the line officers having this
grade the engineer-n-chef. the surgeon general
the paymaster- general and chief naval constructor
at the head OF the bureaus In the Navy Depart
ment. rank with commodores Until 1861 captains
OF the Navy commanding. having commanded
squadrons were recognized commodores. though
never commissioned as such. and were permitted
display the broad pennant OF that rank. In 1862
the grade was established by law a fxed rank.
and in July OF that year eighteen commodores were
commissioned on the active list and seventeen
the retired list. A commodore In the line officers
grade may command a division a squadron or
be chief Of staff Of a naval force commanded by
an admiral. may command naval station be
chief Of bureau.
CAPTAIN ONCE THE HIGHEST GRADE
The grade OF captain the highest known IN
the United States Navy until 1862. and 1t has
simulated rank with colonel OF the Army. Post
captain a term frequently used In the Navy 10
distinguish captains commanding frigatcs from
master comnandants or commanders next in rank.
but there never such a commission a post
captain" 1t is invariably the that the OFF,
commanding the vessel enjoys the popular title
OF captain, although he may be only commander.
a Lieutenant commander or a lieutenant. The name
is also given to certain leading enlisted In the
ships company. captain of gum" captain OF
the forecast.e" captain Of the top" captain OF
the after-guard."
The next grade below that Of captain is that OF
commander. assimiated with the rank OF euten-
ant-colonel In the Army. 1t was frs, introduced in
the Navy in 1888. when IL was enacted that mas
ter commandments should be known and styled
,s,s although the pay Pill approyT.d
may command a vessel OF the second third rate
or be empoyed on other duty corresponding 10 that
Then comes the grade OF Lieutenant command
| err" intermediate rank between commander a'r<
lieutenant. and first introduced in the Navy In 1862
| Before that time lieutenant In command OF YES:
A lieutenant rnmander has assmilated rank with
that OF major in the Army. and mag act ala to
perform duty on shore at Navy yards in
bureau
spends to thst Of captain l IN the Army tn;
navgators executive officers OF the smaller
shore stations. There is also a grade Of junior
| lieutenant the rank corresponding with first lieu
those Of the senior Hcutcnsnls. The grade was
| formerly known master.
| The lowest grade OF commissioned officer In the
Navy is that OF ensign. corresponding to the grade
| Of second lieutenant in the Army. The title
first known &c the United States Navy In 1862. when
the reorga nzation took effect and II took the pace
| of passed midshipman." His duties arc assls-
| tant deck Officer large vessels but the
| smaller classes he may have the deck alone He
also messss in the steerage with officers who rank
| with him In the medical and engineer corps: but
when ne gets. his promotion to junior lieutenant
| ne may then have quarters In the wardroom and
| mess with tho wardroom officers-those who rank
with lieutenant commanders and lieutehans.
RANK OF STAFF OFFICERS.
The staff officers have relative rank with officers
of the line and they comprise the following corps:
| Medical. pay steam engineering. naval construc-
| ton chaplains civil engineers and professors Of
nolu he