post-captain

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea | 2006 | 650 words | Copyright

post-captain, the rank in the British Navy in sailing warship days which corresponds with that of captain today, but it was never a rank in the US Navy. There were in those times two grades of captain, depending on the size and quality of the ship to which the appointments were made. On promotion, lieutenants were given the rank of captain and appointed to the command of a small warship, such as a sloop, cutter, etc. The equivalent rank today would be that of commander. After sufficient experience in command of such a ship they were ‘posted’, i.e. given command of a rated ship, and took the rank of post-captain.

See also master.

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