Sailing Master / Master-- Part 2: Making Sense of a Confusing Mess

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

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

After 1855, passed midshipmen who were graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy filled the position of master.  Both the commissioned officer rank of master and warrant rank of master were maintained until both were merged into the current rank of lieutenant , junior grade on 3 March 1883.

In 1862, masters wore a gold bar for rank insignia, which became a silver bar in 1877.  In 1881, they started wearing  sleeve  stripes of 1/2  inch and 1/4 inch wide strip of gold lace, still used for the rank of lieutenant, junior grade.

OK, So You Know.  --Old B-Runner