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The rank of '''Lieutenant''' in the Navy was the lowest to be assigned by a [[commission]] from the [[Admiralty]] and to bring with it the entitlement to [[half-pay]].   A lieutenant was normally subordinate to a captain, whose substantive rank might be either [[Post Captain (rank)|post captain]] or [[commander]], although he might be placed in sole command of a small vessel such as a [[cutter]] or a [[gunboat]].

All rated ships carried a number of lieutenants, ranging from two on a sixth-[[rate]] up to eight on a first-[[rate]].   The first lieutenant, besides being immediately in line to take command of the [[ship]] if the captain was incapacitated, was responsible for the overall supervision of the crew;  it was he who would generally interview new recruits as they came aboard and determine their classification as [[landsman]], [[ordinary seaman]], [[able-bodied seaman]] etc.   In consideration of these tasks he was in theory exempt from the duty of standing [[watch]], although this privilege was not always practicable on small ships which carried only two or three lieutenants.   The second, third etc. lieutenants, by contrast, were required to take charge of a watch.   A lieutenant also supervised a [[division]] of the crew.

For most of the period covered by the [[Aubrey-Maturin novels]], the pay of a lieutenant was eight guineas (£8.40) per lunar month;  this did not vary according to the rate of his ship or whether he was first or subordinate.

A lieutenant had no automatic right to promotion;  if he was unlucky or ineffectual, he might remain at that level to the end of his career.  He could, subject to certain limits, be promoted to commander by the [[Commander-in-Chief]] of his [[station]].  More frequently, distinguished performance in action would result in his being mentioned in his captain's [[Admiralty letters]] so that the Admiralty came to recognise him as deserving of higher rank.  Patronage and influential connections could make a great difference to his prospects.

Until 1812 the uniform of a lieutenant did not include an [[epaulette]].  He would normally be addressed or referred to as 'Mr [name]' by his equals or superiors.

[[Category:Naval life]]
[[Category:Commissioned officers]]