View source for Engineer (Royal Navy)

'''Engineer''' was a rank of the [[Royal Navy]] from 1837 to 1847 and from 1861 to 1903.

==History==
Engineers were placed on a permanent footing by Order in Council of 19 July, 1837. They were appointed by Warrant by the Admiralty or Commanders-in-Chief on foreign stations, and ranked after [[Carpenter (Royal Navy)|Carpenter]]. They were divided into three classes. A candidate had to "pass such examination as we may from time to time think proper to require, before the Chief Engineer and Inspector of Machinery, or such other officer as we may appoint for that purpose".{{UKOrdersinCouncilI|pp. 369-370}}

In the ''Queen's Regulations for the Government of Her Majesty's Naval Service'' of 1844:

<blockquote>A Candidate for an Engineer’s Warrant in one of Her Majesty’s Steam-Ships shall produce Certificates of his Servitude to an Engineer, or other proof of his practical abilities, and of his good Conduct; and shall pass such Examination as the Admiralty may from time to time direct: but no Candidate shall be appointed First Engineer who shall not have served six months as Second, nor be appointed Second Engineer without having served three months as Third Engineer, or having served six months as Chief Engineer in a Merchant Steam-Vessel: and appointments by Commanders in-Chief abroad are only to be deemed acting appointments, until an Engineer so appointed shall have passed the regulated examination in England.<ref>''Queen's Regulations for the Government of Her Majesty's Naval Service'' (1844). p. 28.</ref></blockquote>

The rank disappeared under Order in Council of 27 February, 1847.{{UKOrdersinCouncilI|pp. 383-385}} By Order in Council of 4 April, 1856, [[Assistant Engineer (Royal Navy)|Assistant Engineers]] could be passed as "Engineers qualified for Charge" but retaining the rank of Assistant Engineer.{{UKOrdersinCouncilI|pp. 384, 429}} Under Order of Council of 16 April, 1861, the rank of Assistant Engineer, 1st Class was renamed Engineer.<ref>Circular, No. 472 dated 7 May, 1861. Docket dated 12 May, 1861. {{TNA|ADM 1/5765.}}</ref>

By Order in Council of 11 June, 1863, Engineers ranked with {{SubRN}}s.{{UKOrdersinCouncilII|pp. 63-64}} Under the Order in Council of 30 April, 1877, Engineers of over eight years' ranked with but after Lieutenants of less than eight years' seniority. Engineers of under eight years' seniority ranked with Sub-Lieutenants, according to date of Commission.{{UKOrdersinCouncilIV|p. 61}} By Order in Council of 17 February, 1886, Engineers of six years' seniority ranked with Lieutenants of under eight years' seniority, according to date of Commission. Engineers under six years' seniority ranked with but after Lieutenants under eight years' seniority.{{UKOrdersinCouncilV|p. 103}} By Order in Council of 29 June, 1900, all Engineers ranked with Lieutenants under eight years' seniority, according to date of Commission.{{UKOrdersinCouncilVIII|p. 114}}

By Order in Council of 28 March, 1903, all Engineers became [[Engineer Lieutenant (Royal Navy)|Engineer Lieutenants]] from 1 April.{{UKOrdersinCouncilIX|p. 33}}

==Pay==
As established in 1837:{{UKOrdersinCouncilI|pp. 369-370}}

{|
|-
| 
| £
| ''s''.
| ''d''.
|-
| 1st Class Engineer
| 9
| 12
| 0 a month, and sixpence a day for each apprentice or boy that may be placed under his instruction
|-
| 2d Class Engineer
| 6
| 16
| 0
|-
| 3d Class Engineer
| 4
| 18
| 0.
|}

In addition, when serving in the "tropics" they were allowed half the pay in addition during the time steam was up or when employed on repairs. When employed on repairs of other ships they were entitled to an extra two shillings a day.

When borne on the books of guard-ships of the ordinary, for harbour service, and when not employed, the pay was as follows:

{|
|-
| 
| £
| ''s''.
| ''d''.
|-
| 1st Class Engineer
| 6
| 6
| 0 a month.
|-
| 2d Class Engineer
| 4
| 4
| 0
|-
| 3d Class Engineer
| 3
| 3
| 0
|}

A year later, by Order in Council of 5 July, 1838, the pay was increased in order to improve retention and recruiting:{{UKOrdersinCouncilI|pp. 370-371}}

{|
|-
| 
| £
| ''s''.
| ''d''.
|-
| First Engineer
| 12
| 0
| 0 a month.
|-
| Second Engineer
| 8
| 0
| 0
|-
| Third Engineer
| 5
| 6
| 0
|}

==Uniform==
The uniform regulations promulgated in 1846 read:

<blockquote>''Coat''.&mdash;Blue cloth, double breasted; buttons, having a steam-engine with a crown embossed on them, to be placed four and four, and a larger button of the same kind upon the collar.<br>
''Waistcoat''.—With buttons similar to those on the coat.<br>
''Trowsers''.—Plain blue cloth.<br>
''Cap''.—With a gold lace band one inch wide, and a gold crown according to pattern in front, above the band.<ref>Circular, No. 14, dated 14 March, 1846, p. 11. {{TNA|ADM 7/890.}}</ref></blockquote>

In 1861 the rank would have inherited the Assistant Engineer, First Class's one quarter of an inch of gold lace around the sleeves. For dress uniform the lace on the coat was three quarters of an inch wide, eight buttons on the breast placed by fours. The epaulettes were two shoulder straps, without device, with silver edging to the straps and crescents. The trousers had no lace. He wore the uniform hat and not a cocked hat and had a regulation sword.<ref>Circular, No. 246, dated 11 April, 1856. {{TNA|ADM 7/890.}}</ref>

The undress uniform was a blue coat, single breasted, "at angles with the skirt", with "padded turn-down collar". The buttons and shoulder straps were the same as in dress uniform, and one quarter of an inch gold braid around the sleeves.<ref>Circular, No. 246, dated 11 April, 1856. {{TNA|ADM 7/890.}}</ref>

The uniform cap in the 1856 regulations:

<blockquote>''Caps.''—Are to be of blue cloth, with a black mohair band one and a half inch wide &hellip;<br>
The Military Branch to be distinguished by a device placed in front of the cap, consisting of a crown embroidered in gold and silver, a silver anchor surrounded by gold laurel branches. The Civil Branch by the same device embroidered in gold; see patterns.<ref>Circular, No. 246, dated 11 April, 1856. {{TNA|ADM 7/890.}}</ref></blockquote>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{UKOrdersinCouncilI}}
*{{UKOrdersinCouncilII}}
*{{UKOrdersinCouncilIV}}
*{{UKOrdersinCouncilV}}
*{{UKOrdersinCouncilVIII}}
*{{UKOrdersinCouncilIX}}
{{refend}}

[[Category:Royal Navy Officer Ranks]]