The Nautical Encyclopedia
Patterson’s Illustrated Nautical Encyclopedia — Howard Patterson, 1891

Captain

Naval

A naval captain is the next grade below a rear admiral, and the next grade above a commander. The commanding officer of a man-o'-war is called captain, irrespective of his rank. The leading men among the crew are called respectively: captain of the top, hold, and afterguard. The captain of the head is a jocular title given to the man, generally a negro, whose duty it is to keep the head clean.

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