U.S. Navy's Master Commandant Rank

From Wikipedia.

I keep coming across this naval rank which is not used anymore.  Just to be sure exactly what it was, I did some research.

It was a rank in the early U.S. Navy, slightly higher than that of a lieutenant.  Often the command of a warship that was too small to justify it be commanded by a full captain was commanded by master commandants.

The rank was later shortened to commander in 1838.

Generally, warships in the early U.S. Navy were commanded, descending in size, by captains, master commandants and lieutenants.

--Brock-Perry