Lieutenant (Fr., from Lat. locum-tenens, 'holding the place of another'), a term applied to a variety of offices of a representative kind. Thus, in military matters, a lieutenant-general is next in rank to a general, a lieutenant-colonel next to a colonel. But the title lieutenant, without qualification, denotes the second officer and deputy, or locum-tenens, of the troop, battery, or company commander. In the horse and field artillery he has a distinct command—viz. one section of the battery, consisting of two guns with the men, horses, and wagons belonging to them.—Captain-lieutenant, an obsolete rank, was the subaltern who commanded the 'colonel's company' in each regiment. The pay of a lieutenant varies from 6s. 6d. a day in the line to 10s. 4d. in the Life Guards. Second-lieutenant is the rank given to officers on first joining, corresponding to that of Coronet (q.v.) and Ensign (q.v.) which formerly existed.
In the British navy lieutenant is a misnomer, and conveys no adequate idea of the rank of the officer bearing that title. His functions from the time of his promotion, and for some eight years afterwards, correspond generally to those of a captain in the army, with whom he ranks, and his ordinary pay is 10s. a day. On attaining, however, eight years' seniority he ranks with a major in the army, and wears an additional stripe of gold lace on his sleeve and a star on his epaulettes as the distinguishing marks of his increased rank, and he now also receives pay at the rate of 12s. a day, which is further increased to 14s. after twelve years' service. The anomaly of the title now comes in, for, although holding field officer's rank, he is still only styled lieutenant. In foreign navies the difficulty is met by there being an intermediate rank between lieutenant and commander. In the German and Austrian navies these officers are styled 'captain-lieutenant,' in the American 'lieutenant-commander,' and in the French 'lieutenant de vaisseau.' Half-pay ranges from 4s. to 8s. 6d. a day. Six years' service afloat as naval cadet and midshipman are requisite to qualify an officer for the rank of lieutenant, and the candidate for that rank has also to pass a satisfactory examination in seamanship and general professional knowledge, which in these days includes navigation and pilotage, gunnery in all its branches, including battalion and field-gun drill, electricity and torpedo work, including laying down submarine mines, and also a fair general knowledge of steam. As leaders in all minor enterprises, such as boat expeditions, cutting out, &c., lieutenants in wartime carry off most of the laurels awarded to actions of singular personal daring.
Sub-lieutenant—formerly mate or passed midshipman—is the intermediate rank in the navy between midshipman and lieutenant. When a midshipman has completed the necessary sea-service, he passes his examination in seamanship for the rank of lieutenant; if successful, he becomes an acting-sub-lieutenant, and is sent home to join the Naval College at Greenwich, where he studies for nine months previous to passing his final examination in navigation, mathematics, &c.; he then has to pass through the gunnery and torpedo schools, and also an examination in pilotage. Should he succeed in obtaining a first-class in all the subjects for examination, he is promoted at once to lieutenant, otherwise he is confirmed in the rank of sub-lieutenant, and has to serve at sea in that rank until his turn for promotion comes round. Unless specially promoted, sub-lieutenants have to serve about four years before obtaining their promotion. The obtaining of a first-class in all subjects is therefore an object of considerable importance.