# Confusion about when exactly George Washington was promoted to Lieutenant General **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 19, 2016, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusion-about-when-exactly-george-washington-was-promoted-to-lieutenant-general/757742 "2016-06-19T01:00:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusion-about-when-exactly-george-washington-was-promoted-to-lieutenant-general/757742/1 "2016-06-19T01:00:17Z")
Hi Different websites give different accounts as to when George Washington was promoted to Lieutenant General. Was it during his Presidency, after his Presidency or after his death? I look forward to your feedback. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusion-about-when-exactly-george-washington-was-promoted-to-lieutenant-general/757742/2 "2016-06-19T01:33:07Z")
According to [this](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_career_of_George_Washington)he was promoted in 1798. Why do you doubt it’s accuracy? ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusion-about-when-exactly-george-washington-was-promoted-to-lieutenant-general/757742/3 "2016-06-19T01:47:09Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > According to [this](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_career_of_George_Washington)he was promoted in 1798. Why do you doubt it’s accuracy? Ok. Thanks dolphinboy. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusion-about-when-exactly-george-washington-was-promoted-to-lieutenant-general/757742/4 "2016-06-19T03:13:04Z")
[GEORGE WASHINGTON’S RANK](http://xenophongroup.com/patriot/washington/rank.htm) appears to have a good explanation of any confusion around his being a lieutenant general. The bottom line is that he indeed was named that by John Adams in 1798 and not during the Revolutionary War. Another similar page, [Clarifying Washington’s Rank](https://allthingsliberty.com/2013/09/clarifying-washingtons-rank/) comes to the same conclusion. Here is the [actual document signed by Adams, dated July 2, 1798](https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/message-of-president-john-adams-nominating-george-washington-to-be-lieutenant-general-and-commander-in-chief-of-the-armies-raised-or-to-be-raised-in-the-united-states). Here’s a transcript of the [letter Washington sent in return, dated July 13, 1798](http://www.usmilitaryhistory.com/Historical%20Documents/George%20Washington%20Accept_%20Speech%201798.htm) I couldn’t find any hits that \*didn’t \*give 1798. Where are you finding them? What about them seemed credible? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusion-about-when-exactly-george-washington-was-promoted-to-lieutenant-general/757742/5 "2016-06-19T03:43:45Z")
The top military ranks in the US pre-Civil War were a bit of a mess, and especially so in the Continental Army as would be in any revolutionary army. Add to it that in that day and age it would not be abnormal to have someone directly appointed to a high rank right off the street, as it were. The early US did not promote to regular ranks above Major General. In the Revolution Washington was “General and Commander in Chief” and outranked everyone else, none of whom was higher than MG, but that was a direct appointment by the Continental Congress. Though during his first presidential term he did actually lead troops in the field in his role as President and Commander-in-Chief, he did not hold a position in the US Army as organized post-constitution until recalled during the Adams administration, thenofficially made Lieutenant General retaining his seniority and higher rank over all the other officers then serving. In 1976 he was promoted to General Of The Arm_ies_ Of The United States retroactively to 4 July 1776 so that on the books he may have ceremonial precedence of seniority over every other officer. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusion-about-when-exactly-george-washington-was-promoted-to-lieutenant-general/757742/6 "2016-06-19T12:47:12Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Hi > > Different websites give different accounts as to when George Washington was promoted to Lieutenant General. Was it during his Presidency, after his Presidency or after his death? > I look forward to your feedback. Thank you all. Very helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusion-about-when-exactly-george-washington-was-promoted-to-lieutenant-general/757742/7 "2016-06-19T13:26:19Z")
So if he was promoted to General of the Armies in 1776, his appointment to the rank of Lieutenant General in 1798 was technically a demotion. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusion-about-when-exactly-george-washington-was-promoted-to-lieutenant-general/757742/8 "2016-06-19T14:23:02Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > So if he was promoted to General of the Armies in 1776, his appointment to the rank of Lieutenant General in 1798 was technically a demotion. 1. The paperwork got held up. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusion-about-when-exactly-george-washington-was-promoted-to-lieutenant-general/757742/9 "2016-06-19T15:49:50Z")
I think what confused me is that most websites refer to Washington as General whereas other like the one below refer to him as Major General (2 stars) during the Revolutionary War , making his later title of Lt. General (3 stars) a promotion. Wikipedia refers to him as General, not Major General. > **[Continental Army](https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/continental-army/)** > > As Major General and Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, George Washington won the military struggle for American Independence. Remarkably, however, Washington's army won only three of the nine major battles that he oversaw and was often... “As Major General and Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, George Washington won the military struggle for American Independence. Remarkably, however, Washington’s army won only three of the nine major battles that he oversaw and was often retreating. Even some of the victories were more strategic than measurable in military terms.” ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusion-about-when-exactly-george-washington-was-promoted-to-lieutenant-general/757742/10 "2016-06-19T16:48:32Z")
From my first link: > [@](#): > > The Second Continental Congress commissioned George Washington to be ‘General and Commander in Chief’ of the Army of the United Colonies. No further attention was given to prescribing a distinctive insignia of rank at the time. Many in Congress perceived that the establishment of a military organization was only a temporary, but necessary evil, until the conflict was won. The simpler the senior command organization, the better. There were three levels of general rank in the Continental Army: Brigadier, Major, and Commander in Chief – in ascending order of rank and authority. In particular, it should be noted that for the duration of the 1775-1783 war there were no lieutenant generals in the Continental Army – although, Washington unsuccessfully petitioned the Continental Congress for such a rank on at least two occasions. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusion-about-when-exactly-george-washington-was-promoted-to-lieutenant-general/757742/11 "2016-06-19T16:59:16Z")
So that is because of some historical weirdness. The Continental Army’s highest “real rank” was Major General, two stars. There were a long list of men who held this rank (in no order): Henry Knox, Arthur St. Clair, Horatio Gates, Benedict Arnold, Nathanael Greene, Marquis de Lafayette (yes, he had a Continental Army commission), Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, Israel Putnam…and probably a handful more I’ve not remembered. George Washington throughout his career in the Continental Army always wore two stars, and essentially was a Major General. But, he had a specific “command” (trying to translate pre-modern, revolutionary Army concepts to modern ones) as “General and Command-in-Chief of the Continental Army.” He was the supreme military leader of the Continental Army, and all other major generals reported to him, he was their commanding officer. During the Adams Presidency Washington was, on paper, called back into service and promoted to Lieutenant General, this time in the U.S. Army (he had not served in it previously, after the war he left the military entirely until 1798.) ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusion-about-when-exactly-george-washington-was-promoted-to-lieutenant-general/757742/12 "2016-06-19T17:07:17Z")
Actually what I just said was incorrect, based on [this](https://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field(DOCID+@lit(jc00238))), Washington’s actual Revolutionary War rank was “General”, not major general. I was confused because in most paintings he was shown to wear three stars, and maybe that’s where the confusion comes about. While a modern Maj. General would wear three stars the Continental Army, as Exapno said, didn’t have as formalized uniform system. Washington wore three stars but was a “General”, and Commander in Chief, his highest ranked subordinates were all Major Generals, but he actually nominated a few for Lieutenant General rank, the Congress just never approved them (and obviously it’s unlikely he’d have nominated someone to a rank higher than his own.) ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusion-about-when-exactly-george-washington-was-promoted-to-lieutenant-general/757742/13 "2016-06-19T17:27:42Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > 1. The paperwork got held up. And [here’s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_of_the_Armies#/media/File:Orders_31-3.jpg) a copy of the paperwork in case anyone’s interested. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusion-about-when-exactly-george-washington-was-promoted-to-lieutenant-general/757742/14 "2016-07-17T02:38:34Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Hi > > Different websites give different accounts as to when George Washington was promoted to Lieutenant General. Was it during his Presidency, after his Presidency or after his death? > I look forward to your feedback. This wiki post must be wrong. It should be two right? > **[Military career of George Washington](https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:4rSCE0Hrvt4J:https:%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMilitary_career_of_George_Washington%2B&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us)** > > Virginia Association > > The military career of George Washington spanned over forty-five years of service (1752–1799). Washington's service can be broken into three periods, French and Indian War, American Revolutionary War, and the Quasi-War with France, with service in three different armed forces (British provincial militia, the Continental Army, and the United States Army). “While serving as a General, Washington wore three six-pointed stars (three five-pointed stars are now used as the insignia of a lieutenant general).[137]” This is correct > **[The Price of Freedom](https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/price-of-freedom)** > > The Price of Freedom: Americans at War surveys the history of America’s military from the French and Indian Wars to the present day, exploring ways in which wars have been defining episodes in American history. “The British Army, which served as the model for the Continental Army, adopted epaulettes as officers’ rank insignia in 1768. Continental Army regulations for the use of epaulettes were first published in the General Orders dated 18 June 1780. According to these orders, Major Generals were to wear an epaulette on each shoulder with two stars on each epaulette.”