LIEUTENANT (Fr. from Lat. locum-tenens, holding the place of another), a term applied to a variety of offices of a representative kind. Thus, in military a lieu tenant-general personates with each division of an army the general-in-chief. A lieuPn. ant-colonel (q.v.) commands a battalion for a colonel in the latter's absence. But the title lieutenant, without qualification, denotes the second officer and deputy, or locum-tenens, of the captain in each company of cavalry or infantry. A lieutenant iu the British foot guards ranks as captain in the army, and exchange's with a captain in another regiment. —Captain-lieutenant, an obsolete rank, was the subaltern who commanded the "colonel's company" in each regiment.—A second-lieutenant is the junior subaltern of a company, aid corresponds to what formerly was an ensign (q.v.). The pay of a lieutenant varies from 10s. 4d. a day in the life-guards to 6s. 6d. in the line.
In the British navy lieutenant is a misnomer in the case of the officer bearing that title. His functions in all respects correspond to those of a captain in the army, with whom he ranks, and with whom he also nearly matches in regard to pay. A lieutenant's full pay is 10s. a day; and his half-pay ranges, according to length of services, from 4s. to 7s. a.day. Six years' service afloat are requisite to qualify an officer for the rank of lieutenant, and the candidate has also to pass a satisfactory examination in seamanship and general professional knowledge. As leader•in all minor enterprises, such as boat expeditions, cutting out, etc., lieutenants in war time carry off most of the laurels awarded to actions of singular personal daring.