Farragut Becomes America’s First Full Admiral, 25 July 1866

[The Patriot]

For decades after its founding, the United States Navy did not have the rank of admiral because the title sounded too reminiscent of royalty. The highest rank was captain; those who commanded squadrons received the honorary title “commodore.”In 1857 Congress replaced the designation “commodore” with the more grandiose sounding “flag officer,” the traditional title for [...]

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