Cornet (military rank)

Cornet was originally the third and lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, after captain and lieutenant. A cornet is a new and junior officer.

Traditional duties

The cornet carried the troop standard, also known as a "cornet".

The rank of Cornet was the equivalent of the infantry rank of ensign, and was one of the subaltern ranks (along with lieutenant).

History

The rank was in use by the time of the English Civil War. A few famous people in that war were Cornets George Joyce, Robert Stetson, and Ninian Beall.^[1]

It was abolished at the same time that the purchase of commissions in the army was abolished in the Army Reform Act of 1871 and was replaced by Second Lieutenant.

In practice, the style "Cornet" is still used for Second Lieutenants in the Blues and Royals and the Queen's Royal Hussars.

The ranks of Ensign and Cornet were abolished in the US Army in the year 1800.^[2]

The rank also existed in other nation's cavalry troops, such as those of Sweden (Kornett) and Imperial Russia (корнет), and by the Continental Army in the American War of Independence. General Alexander Macomb was initially commissioned a Cornet in a career in which he eventually became Commanding General of the United States Army.^[3] It is still used in the artillery and cavalry divisions of the Netherlands (Kornet).

References

1. ^ Jstor.org
2. ^ USmilitary.about.com
3. ^ Bell, William Gardner, Commanding Generals and Chiefs of Staff, 1775-2005: Portraits & Biographical Sketches of the United States Army's Senior Officer (Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, U.S. Army, 2006). ISBN 0160723760.