Master Rank in the U.S. Navy-- Part 2: So As Not To Get Confused

From Wikipedia.

Master, originally sailing master, was a historic warrant officer rank in the United States Navy, above that of a midshipman, after 1819, passed midshipman, after 1862 ensign, and below a lieutenant.

Some masters were appointed to command ships, with the rank of master commandant.  In 1837,  sailing master  was renamed master, master commandant was renamed  commander, and some masters were commissioned as officers, formally  "master in line for promotion" to distinguish them from warrant masters who could not be promoted.

I will write more about this rank in my Running the Blockade: Civil War Navy blog later today.

So, That's What a Sailing Master's Rank Was.  --Brock-Perry