Midshipman
In the 17th century, a midshipman was a rating for an experienced seaman. The word derives from the area aboard a ship, amidships, either where the original rating worked on the ship, or where he was berthed. In the UK midship man is the most junior commissioned officer in the rank structure, and similar to a US ensign in role and responsibility. Ranks equivalent to midshipsman exist in many other navies.
About Midshipman in brief
In the 17th century, a midshipman was a rating for an experienced seaman. The word derives from the area aboard a ship, amidships, either where the original rating worked on the ship, or where he was berthed. By the Napoleonic era, a midshipman was an apprentice officer who had previously served at least three years as a volunteer, officer’s servant or able seaman, and was roughly equivalent to a present-day petty officer in rank and responsibilities. In many Romance languages, the literal translation of the local term for “midshipsman” into English is “Navy Guard”, including the French garde marine, Spanish guardia marina, Portuguese guarda-marinha, and Italian guardiamarina. Today, these ranks all refer to naval cadets, but historically they were selected by the monarchy, and were trained mostly on land as soldiers. Midshipmen in the United States Navy were trained and served similarly to midship men in the Royal Navy, although unlike their counterparts in the UK, they were a warrant officer rank until 1912. Ranks equivalent to midshipsman exist in many other navies, including Canada, Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Kenya. Beginning in 1661, boys who aspired to become officers were sent by their families to serve on ships with a “letter of service” from the crown, and paid at the same rate as midshipmen. The Royal Navy regulations for promotion to lieutenant required at least six years of service in the sea.
By 1794, all midshipMen were considered officer candidates, and the original ratings were phased out. In the UK midship man is the most junior commissioned officer in the rank structure, and similar to a US ensign in role and responsibility. The first published use of the term midshipMan was in 1662. The rank of midshipwoman originated during the Tudor and Stuart eras, and originally referred to a post for an experience seaman promoted from the ordinary deck hands, who worked in between the main and mizzen masts and had more responsibility than an ordinary seaman but was not a military officer or an officer in training. The original rating was phased out in the 18th century and the seaman rating began to slowly die out. Some members of theOriginal rating served, as late as 1822, alongside apprentice officers without themselves aspiring to a commission. In 1877, Royal Navy rules required promotion to Lieutenant to be passed over for promotion or passed over by the officer candidates who failed to pass the lieutenant examination or were passedover for promotion. By 1894, some midship Men were older men, and while most were officer candidates. Some of the older men took positions as master’s mates for an increase in pay and responsibility aboard ship. Between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries, time at sea declined to less than a year as the entry age was increased from 12 to 18.
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This page is based on the article Midshipman published in Wikipedia (as of Oct. 31, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
