The soldier is a common recurring theme throughout Jane Austen's novel - sometimes representing the true gentlemen, other times embodying the true scoundrel. Nevertheless, it helps to gain a certain understanding of the interal rank structure of Britain's land and sea armies so one can associated the social standing of some like, say, a Captain Wentworth from Persuasion. Below is a listing of current and past military ranks of the British Army and Navy, as well as several ranks no longer in use, to help you along.
British Army
Rank
Abbrev
Notes:
Field Marshal
FM
No longer issued in peacetime
General
Gen
Lieutenant General
Lt Gen
Major General
Maj Gen
Brigadier
Brig
Colonel
Col
Lieutenant Colonel
Lt Col
Major
Maj
Captain
Capt
Lieutenant
Lt
Second Lieutenant
2Lt
Office Cadet
OCdt
Other ranks of note though no longer in use:
Rank
Notes:
Captain-General
Essentailly a full General; used in the 17th Century
Sergeant-Major General
Becoming Major General sometime in the 17th Century
Brigadier-General
Fully replaced by Colonel-Commandant in 1922
Colonel-Commandant
Fully replaced by Brigadier in 1928
Sergeant-Major's Major
Becoming Major sometime in the 17th Century
Captain-Lieutenant
Lieutenant of the first company in the regiment with captaincy maintained by a regimental colonel.
Ensign
Replaced by 2nd Lieutenant; lowest rank in infantry regiment
Cornet
Cavalry equivalent of ensign
British Navy
Rank
Abbrev
Notes:
Admiral of the Fleet
NONE
Equivalent to USN Fleet Admiral
Admiral
Adm
Equivalent to USN Admiral
Vice-Admiral
VAdm
Equivalent to USN Vice Admiral
Rear-Admiral
RAdm
Equivalent to USN Rear Admiral, Upper Half
Commodore
Cdre
Equivalent to USN Rear Admiral, Lower Half
Captain
Capt
Equivalent to USN Captain
Commander
Cdr
Equivalent to USN Commander
Lieutenant-Commander
Lt Cdr
Equivalent to USN Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant
Lt
Equivalent to USN Lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant
SLt
Equivalent to USN Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Midshipman
Mid
No USN Equivalent
Cadet
Cdt
Equivalent to USN Midshipman, USCG Cadet or Officer Candidate.
