Commodore

an officer in the navy next in rank above a captain. In the navy of the United States, the rank was first created in 1862, but was abolished in 1899, when all commodores became rear-admirals. A commodore commands two or more ships, and ranks with a brigadier-general in the army. When three or more ships are lying at anchor together the title of commodore is given by courtesy to the captain longest in the service. It is also customary to call the president of a yachting club or an organization of boat clubs the commodore. The commodore's flag of the British navy is a white, swallowtailed pennant, with a red cross. In the United States the commodore's pennant may be red, white, or blue, with a single star in the center. The lower point is the longer.