ADMIRAL, the rank and title of the naval officer who com mands a fleet or sub-division of a fleet. In the British Navy there are four grades of admiral; i.e., admiral of the fleet, admiral, vice-admiral and rear-admiral, in descending order of seniority. These titles superseded those in vogue in the Stuart Navy of ad miral of the blue, red and white. In the United States there are four corresponding grades: admiral of the Navy, admiral, vice admiral, rear-admiral. The first was created, 1899, for Admiral Dewey. The second and third, corresponding to general and lieu tenant-general in the Army, were created in 1866.
The rank of admiral essentially applies to flag officers of the military branch who have commanded, or who have qualified to command, a fleet or squadron at sea. In Great Britain the equiv alent rank of admiral is granted to certain officers of the non-mili tary branches of the Royal Navy; e.g., engineer rear-admiral, pay master rear-admiral, but they are not flag officers. In the U.S. Navy, certain officers of the non-military branches are given the rank of : Rear-Admiral, Medical Corps ; Rear-Admiral, Supply Corps ; Rear-Admiral, Construction Corps ; Rear-Admiral, Civil Engineer Corps. They are not "flag officers." The corresponding ranks in the British services are: The corresponding ranks in the United States services are: Admiral of the Navy General of the Armies The rank of commodore is no longer used for active officers of the Navy.
It is exceptional for an admiral of the fleet to fly his flag at sea in peace time. Commanders-in-chief of the main British fleet; i.e., Mediterranean, and of the premier home ports—Portsmouth and Plymouth—are generally full admirals. The lesser independent commands and seconds-in-command are vice-admirals or rear admirals.
In the United States the ranks of admiral and vice-admiral are temporarily conferred (ex-officio) upon the following commanders : Chief of Naval Operations Commander Scouting Force Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet Commander Battleships Commander-in-Chief, Asiatic Fleet Commander Aircraft Commander Battle Force The political and administrative head of the British Navy up to the year 1546 was known as "The Lord High Admiral," which of fice is now executed by the lords commissioners of the Admiralty. There still remain the honorary titles of "Vice- and Rear-Admiral of Great Britain," in compliment to selected senior flag officers. The chiefs of bureaux in the U.S. Navy rank as rear-admirals.