Midshipman, the second rank attained by combatant officers in the royal navy. As a cadet he remains two years in the Britannia, the cadet training ship. On passing out, if he obtains a first-class certificate, he is rated midshipman at once; if he only obtains a second-class certificate, he serves six months at sea as naval cadet and then passes for midshipman; if he only gets a third-class certificate, he cannot pass for midshipman until he has been twelve months at sea. A midshipman has to serve four years and six months in that rank, inclusive of the time allowed him on leaving the Britannia; then if he is nineteen years of age he can pass his examination as acting sub-lieutenant. He next joins the college at Greenwich, where he receives a nine months' course in mathematics, navigation, &c., at the end of which time he has to pass his final examination in those subjects to qualify him for the rank of lieutenant. From Greenwich he proceeds to the torpedo school for a three months' course before passing his final examination in that branch; then to the gunnery school for another nine months' course in gunnery before his final examination. Lastly, he has to go through a three months' course in pilotage. If he is lucky enough to obtain a first-class certificate in all five branches—viz. seamanship, mathematics, torpedo, gunnery, and pilotage—he obtains his lieutenant's commission at once as his reward; otherwise he has to wait two or three years, as a rule, as a sub-lieutenant before being promoted. A midshipman's time is principally devoted to his instruction, and he is undergoing a period of probation for his future career. He is examined every six months in all subjects to ascertain the progress he is making, and is liable to be summarily dismissed if he is found not to be making satisfactory progress or to be not likely to make an efficient officer. There is no open competition for cadetships as for commissions in the army; but cadets are nominated, and there is a limited system of competition, three candidates being allowed to compete for every vacancy. Midshipman is the only naval title peculiarly English; from what it takes its origin it is difficult to say. He ranks with a second-lieutenant in the army. In France he is styled 'enseigne de vaisseau,' and in other navies he remains cadet until he becomes a sub- or under-lieutenant. A midshipman receives only 1s. 9d. a day (£31, 18s. 9d. per annum); he is consequently dependent on his friends for more or less pecuniary assistance until he becomes a sub-lieutenant.
Midsommer Day—24th June—is one of the four English quarter-days. For Midsummer Eve, see JOHN'S (EVE OF ST).