Flag captain
Encyclopedia
In the Royal Navy
, a flag captain was the captain of an admiral's flagship
. During the 18th and 19th centuries, this ship might also have a "captain of the fleet
", who would be ranked between the admiral and the "flag captain" as the ship's "First Captain", with the "flag captain" as the ship's "Second Captain".
Unlike a "captain of the fleet", a flag-captain was generally a fairly junior post-captain
, as he had the Admiral to keep an eye on him, but - like a "captain of the fleet" - a "flag captain" was a post rather than a rank.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, a flag captain was the captain of an admiral's flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
. During the 18th and 19th centuries, this ship might also have a "captain of the fleet
Captain of the fleet
In the Royal Navy of the 18th and 19th centuries a Captain of the Fleet could be appointed to assist an admiral when the admiral had ten or more ships to command....
", who would be ranked between the admiral and the "flag captain" as the ship's "First Captain", with the "flag captain" as the ship's "Second Captain".
Unlike a "captain of the fleet", a flag-captain was generally a fairly junior post-captain
Post-Captain
Post-captain is an obsolete alternative form of the rank of captain in the Royal Navy.The term served to distinguish those who were captains by rank from:...
, as he had the Admiral to keep an eye on him, but - like a "captain of the fleet" - a "flag captain" was a post rather than a rank.