Union Navy personnel. One a day.

"Master" used to be a commissioned rank just under "Lieutenant;" today, "Lieutenant (junior grade)" replaces it. 19th century antebellum ranks can be confusing, because there were "masters-not-in-line-of-promotion" who were warrant officers, and "masters-in-line-of-promotion" who were commissioned officers.

Something close to the modern rank structure emerged from the U. S. Navy of the Civil War days, with Ensign the lowest commissioned rank (superseding the former "passed midshipman"), then Master (as above), Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, Commander, Captain, Commodore, Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, and Admiral.
 
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Chaplain William A. Hitchcock - Chaplain aboard USS Niagara and at the U.S. Naval Academy in Newport, Rhode Island.
 
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