Post by Voltaire on Jul 8, 2014 1:04:45 GMT
Ranks in the 18th Century
Ranks in the 18th Century were a little bit different than military ranks today.
Private - an individual person without any rank
Ensign - primary role is to carry regimental colors into battle; must serve as ensign for two years before being eligible to purchase a commission to lieutenant
Lieutenant - normally commands a small tactical unit such as a platoon. A Lieutenant often takes the place of a superior officer when that officer is absent.
Captain - the head of a company (usually around 80 men)
Major - third in command (after General and Colonels); may command his own battalion
Lieutenant Colonel - the Colonel's assistants; took over in such times the Colonel was gone
Brigadier General - commander of a brigade; lowest-ranking general officer
Major General - the chief administrative officer; duties included such things as supply, organization, and forming the army for battle or march.
Lieutenant General - commanded when the General was away attending other things
General - top Commander
Sergeant - a non-commissioned officer just above the rank of corporal
Corporal - a non-commissioned officer; their main duty in battle was to repeat orders from the captain or lieutenant, and they walked in line with the privates; men were often promoted and demoted from corporal
Commissioned Officers - commissions could only be purchased up to the rank of Colonel. To purchase a promotion, an officer only had to pay the difference in price between his existing rank and the desired rank. A commission could be sold only for its official value, and was to be offered first to the next most senior officer in the same regiment. Regimental colonels were permitted to, and often did, refuse to allow the purchase of a commission in their regiment by anyone who had the necessary money but was not from a social background to their liking.
Non-Commissioned Officers - Non-commissioned officers usually obtain their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks, by virtue of seniority.
Warrant Officers - Found in the Royal Navy, they were specialist professionals whose expertise and authority demanded formal recognition.
Ranks in the 18th Century were a little bit different than military ranks today.
From lowest to highest:
Private - an individual person without any rank
Ensign - primary role is to carry regimental colors into battle; must serve as ensign for two years before being eligible to purchase a commission to lieutenant
Lieutenant - normally commands a small tactical unit such as a platoon. A Lieutenant often takes the place of a superior officer when that officer is absent.
Captain - the head of a company (usually around 80 men)
Major - third in command (after General and Colonels); may command his own battalion
Lieutenant Colonel - the Colonel's assistants; took over in such times the Colonel was gone
Brigadier General - commander of a brigade; lowest-ranking general officer
Major General - the chief administrative officer; duties included such things as supply, organization, and forming the army for battle or march.
Lieutenant General - commanded when the General was away attending other things
General - top Commander
Others:
Subaltern - a term applied to any officer below the rank of CaptainSergeant - a non-commissioned officer just above the rank of corporal
Corporal - a non-commissioned officer; their main duty in battle was to repeat orders from the captain or lieutenant, and they walked in line with the privates; men were often promoted and demoted from corporal
Commissioned Officers - commissions could only be purchased up to the rank of Colonel. To purchase a promotion, an officer only had to pay the difference in price between his existing rank and the desired rank. A commission could be sold only for its official value, and was to be offered first to the next most senior officer in the same regiment. Regimental colonels were permitted to, and often did, refuse to allow the purchase of a commission in their regiment by anyone who had the necessary money but was not from a social background to their liking.
Non-Commissioned Officers - Non-commissioned officers usually obtain their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks, by virtue of seniority.
Warrant Officers - Found in the Royal Navy, they were specialist professionals whose expertise and authority demanded formal recognition.
