In 1758, the rank of midshipman was introduced, which was a type of officer candidate position.

Over time, the nautical command structure merged these two separate command chains into a single entity with captain and lieutenant as commissioned officer ranks while sailing master (often shortened to simply 'master') was seen as a type of warrant officer specializing in navigation and ship handling. This simplicity of rank had its origins in the Middle Ages, where a military company embarked on ship (led by a captain and a lieutenant) operated independently from the handling of the vessel, which was overseen by the ship's master. The early Royal Navy also had only three clearly established shipboard ranks: captain, lieutenant, and master. Coats were often dark blue to reduce fading caused by the rain and spray, with gold embroidery on the cuffs and standing collar to signify the officer's wealth and status. Prior to the 1740s, Royal Navy officers and sailors had no established uniforms, although many of the officer class typically wore upper-class clothing with wigs to denote their social status. History Naval officers' uniforms of the early 18th century, as worn by Admiral Cloudesley Shovell, were based on contemporary civilian patterns and usually included a powdered wig. Royal Navy ranks, rates, and uniforms of the 18th and 19th centuries were the original effort of the Royal Navy to create standardized rank and insignia system for use both at shore and at sea. Sir Edward Pellew, wearing a vice admiral's full dress coat with late 18th century style epaulettes

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War of 1812 royal navy uniforms