This reply to a post,
"Although early English naval organization mirrored that around most of northern Europe, with a soldier as "captain" of a ship and a sailor as "master," the increasing specialization of the marine arts and the change from "land battle at sea" to actual naval warfare meant that the "tarpaulin" or seaman came to command ships, and, eventually, navies."
states that it was common to have a soldier as captain and a sailor as master.
What do these terms mean and why then were they combined into one position of "master and commander", and would it be a soldier or sailor who held that post ?
Thanks.
Hi, just to clarify, you're always welcome to reply directly to something in the thread, but since we're here ...
In the period I study, the master of a ship was a warrant officer, while the captain of a ship (who had several different titles -- someone in command was called a captain by courtesy), was a commissioned officer. That is, a master was a non-commissionned officer, like the ship's boatswain or carpenter or surgeon, while the captain would have the rank of at least lieutenant.
The term "master and commander" dates back to the late 17th century, and was used for men who would command a ship as well as being its sailing master -- usually a ship that was considered too small to have both a captain and a master aboard. A list of men who had the rank of "master and commander" dates back to 1718, and the official title of "commander" dates to 1794, but the term "master and commander" remains in use for awhile after that.
The reason why those offices were distinct dates back to the Middle Ages, when soldiers would often be in command of a naval force, but would require actual sailors (men experienced in navigation and ship-handling) aboard to sail the ship.
By the time we reach the early 18th century, the notion of someone unskilled in sailing commanding a ship is really starting to die out -- it's around this time that we start to see a recognizable tradition of midshipmen training as boys to become leaders, and then a promotion chain of mid -> lieutenant -> master and commander -> post-captain. A post-captain would rise by seniority and would inevitably become an admiral, if he lived long enough.