Admiral of the White

Admiral of the White was a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, immediately outranked by the rank Admiral of the Red (see order of precedence below). From 1688 to 1805 this rank was in order of precedence second; after 1805 it was the third. In 1864 it was abolished as a promotional rank.

History
The Royal Navy inaugurated squadron colours during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558–1603) to subdivide the English fleet into three squadrons. There were three classes of admirals and differentiated by using coloured flags. In 1620 the official flag ranks of admiral, vice admiral, and rear admiral were legally established that arose directly out of the organisation of the fleet into three parts. The Royal Navy introduced the formal flag rank of Admiral of the Fleet in 1688.

The Admiral of the White was a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, immediately outranked by the rank Admiral of the Red. In 1864 it was abolished as a promotional rank.

Order of precedence
The Navy was divided into three squadrons Red, White and Blue in order of seniority. Admirals were appointed to these squadrons and therefore their rank and squadron split the seniority into nine bands with ‘Admiral of the Fleet' forming a tenth senior to all others.

Seniority was therefore from 1805 to 1864:


 * 1) Admiral of the Fleet
 * 2) Admiral of the Red Squadron (rank created in 1805)
 * 3) Admiral of the White Squadron
 * 4) Admiral of the Blue Squadron
 * 5) Vice-Admiral of the Red Squadron
 * 6) Vice-Admiral of the White Squadron
 * 7) Vice-Admiral of the Blue Squadron
 * 8) Rear-Admiral of the Red Squadron
 * 9) Rear-Admiral of the White Squadron
 * 10) Rear-Admiral of the Blue Squadron

Seniority was therefore from 1688 to 1805:


 * 1) Admiral of the Fleet, (rank created in 1688)
 * 2) Admiral of the White Squadron
 * 3) Admiral of the Blue Squadron
 * 4) Vice-Admiral of the Red Squadron
 * 5) Vice-Admiral of the White Squadron
 * 6) Vice-Admiral of the Blue Squadron
 * 7) Rear-Admiral of the Red Squadron
 * 8) Rear-Admiral of the White Squadron
 * 9) Rear-Admiral of the Blue Squadron

Admirals without an appointment were colloquially referred to as Yellow Admirals. Ships of the Royal Navy flew the ensign that coincided with the squadron of their commanding officer.