The New International Encyclopædia/Admiral

AD′MIRAL. The title of a naval officer of the highest rank. The word is derived from the Arabic amīr, or amīr al- (lord, or chief of the), forming the first part of many compound words, such as amīr al-mu’minīn, “commander of the faithful;” amīr al-umarā, “commander of the forces;” amīr al-bahr, “commander of the sea;” amīr al-umarā ‘asākir, “commander of the troops, marshal.” The term appears to have been introduced into Europe during the Crusades, and to have been first used in a definite sense by the Sicilians and afterwards by the Genoese. In French the word is preserved without change, as amiral; in Spanish and Portuguese it has developed into almirante, and, in Italian, into ammiraglio. The early English form was doubtless similar to that of the French, as we find it spelled amyrell and admyrall. It was Latinized in England as admiralius, and as early as the time of Edward III. was Anglicized as admyrall. The first English “admiral of the seas” of whom there is any record was William de Leybourne, 1297. His office, however, was not that of a commander of sea forces, but embraced those general and extensive powers afterwards associated with the title of lord high admiral of England; that is, both the administrative functions now vested in the lords commissioners of the admiralty (five in number) and the judicial authority belonging to the present high court of admiralty. The office of lord high admiral was last filled by the Duke of Clarence, afterward William IV. Upon his resignation in 1828 it was put in commission, reverting to a previous practice. The duties of the office were administered by a board of commissioners from 1632 to about 1650, from 1685 to 1702, and from 1708 to 1827, while under the commonwealth they were performed by a committee of Parliament.

In the United States Navy the grades of admiral, vice-admiral, and rear-admiral were established by act of Congress, primarily for the purpose of conferring exceptional distinction upon the great naval commander Captain David Glasgow Farragut (q.v.). The lowest of these grades, that of rear-admiral, was established in 1862, as was also that of commodore; though the latter had previously existed as a courtesy title without authority of law. The number of rear-admirals on the active list was limited to nine. In 1864 the President was authorized to appoint one of the rear-admirals a vice-admiral. Under the laws, Captain Farragut became the first commodore, first rear-admiral, and first vice-admiral. In 1866 Congress provided for an active list of one admiral, one vice-admiral and ten rear-admirals. Farragut was promoted to be admiral, and Rear-Admiral David B. Porter to be vice-admiral. On the death of Farragut (1870), Porter became admiral and Rear-Admiral Stephen Clegg Rowan was promoted to be vice-admiral. With the death of Porter (1891) and Rowan (1890), the grades of admiral and vice-admiral became extinct. In 1899 the grade of admiral was reëstablished, and Rear-Admiral George Dewey was promoted to fill the vacancy in recognition of his services in the battle of Manila Bay, and of his judicious management of the difficult international situation following the defeat and destruction of the Spanish fleet. In 1882 Congress reduced the number of rear-admirals on the active list to six and the number of commodores to ten; but in 1899 the number of rear-admirals was increased to eighteen and the grade of commodore on the active list abolished. In addition, the chiefs of the bureaus of the navy department have the rank of rear-admiral during their term of office. Under the original act of Congress (November 15, 1776), looking to the establishment of the ranks of admiral, vice-admiral, and rear-admiral, the first named ranked with the general of the army, the second with a lieutenant-general, and the last with a major-general. Since 1862 various acts have confirmed these provisions; but the act of 1899, which abolished the rank of commodore, provided that the first nine rear-admirals should rank with major-generals and the second nine with brigadier-generals. The act of 1899 fixed the pay of flag officers as follows: Admiral, $13,500 at sea or on shore; senior nine rear-admirals, $7500 while at sea, or on shore duty beyond seas, and $6375 while on shore duty; junior nine rear-admirals, $5500 while at sea, or on shore duty beyond seas, and $4675 while on shore duty. The pay of officers on the retired list is seventy-five per centum of their active pay at time of retirement. The number in 1902 on this list was forty-three. The flag of the admiral is a rectangular blue flag with four white stars, and is flown at the main; that of the vice-admiral, flown at the fore, is a similar flag, with three stars. The flag of a rear-admiral, flown at the mizzen, is similar in shape, has two stars, and is usually blue in color, but in case two or more rear-admirals are in company the senior flies a blue flag, the second in rank a red flag, and the junior a white flag. For illustration see Plate of United States Flags accompanying Flag.

In the British Navy the admirals are distinguished into three classes: Admirals, vice-admirals, and rear-admirals; the admiral carrying his colors at the main, the vice-admiral at the fore, and the rear-admiral at the mizzen-masthead. In former times each grade was subdivided into three sections, known as admirals (or vice or rear admirals) of the red, of the white, and of the blue, respectively. The flag hoisted by the admiral (thence called a flag officer) agreed in color with his section; and all the ships under his command carried ensign and pennant of the same hue; but the distinction was otherwise without practical effect and is now abolished. Admiral of the fleet is a higher rank, conferred at the will of the sovereign. The rates of full or sea pay of flag officers are as follows: Admiral of the fleet, per day, £6; admiral, £5; vice-admiral, £4; rear-admiral, £3. An admiral commanding-in-chief receives £3 a day additional at home and £4 10s. abroad, as table money. In 1901 there were seventy-three flag officers on the active list in the British Navy: viz., five admirals of the fleet, ten admirals, twenty-one vice-admirals, and thirty-seven rear-admirals; and on retired and reserved pay, two admirals of the fleet, seventy-two admirals, and one hundred and one rear-admirals. The admiral of the fleet takes rank with a field marshal, admirals with generals, vice-admirals with lieutenant-generals, and rear-admirals with major-generals.