Flag-officer

Flag-officer, in the British Navy, is an admiral, vice-admiral, or rear-admiral. He is so called from his right to carry, at the mast-head of the ship in which he sails, a flag denoting his rank. The Lord High Admiral, or the commissioners appointed to fulfil his duty—i.e. the Lords of the Admiralty, fly the union flag at the main. For an admiral the flag is borne at the main; for a vice-admiral, at the fore; and for a rear-admiral, at the mizzen: the flag being, in either case, a red St George's cross on a white field. For the former division by squadrons, see FLAG.