"Did Washington have a chance of a British commission?" Topic

One of Washington's desires as a young man was to obtain a commission as a British officer. How realistic were such wishes?
If he were a second son of a gentry family on England, he would have become an obscure officer in an obscure regiment.
But he was that son in America.

How many officers in British regiments came from America before the American Revolution?

He was only interested in getting his Virginia regiment accepted onto the British establishment, and becoming its colonel. He had no interest in pursuing a junior commission after commanding a regiment, then a brigade on the march.

See Brunwell's outstanding book on Washington to get more details on this.

FYI, other "Americans" obtained commissions, but were happy accepting junior commissions. Washington had no interest in this. He was, however, interested in obtaining an appointment to the Royal Navy much earlier, but mom put the cabosh on that idea.

How many officers in British regiments came from America before the American Revolution?

Unfortunately, it is impossible to tell from the official Army Lists of that era. However, Sir Henry Clinton was a Noo Yoiker by birth (or boith if you prefer).

He was, however, interested in obtaining an appointment to the Royal Navy much earlier, but mom put the cabosh on that idea.

Oddly enough, something similar happened to Napoleon. In his case, his mother is supposed to have sunk the idea accidentally, by writing an excruciatingly "proud mum" letter to the Admiralty.

Regarding your American accent… Don't quit your day job.

Here's one you can practice, Supercillius. I loined it frum me mudder:

Da Toity Poiple Boids

Toity poiple boids wuz sittin onna coibstone,
Boipin an choipin an eatin doity woims.
Along cumz Boit wid a skoit named Hoit
What woiks in a shoit factwy ovah in Joisey,
An dey seen da toity poiple boids, sittin onna coibstone,
Boipin an choipin an eatin doity woims,
An Boit sez, "Look, Hoit!"
An boi, wuz dey pwetoibed.

I think if you had the money you just put it in the shopping cart and clicked OK.

Years ago I remember reading something about Washington having an early opportunity to join the RN as a Midshipmen.

Forget when and where I read this, but that immediately came to mind.

Interesting video here

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"Years ago I remember reading something about Washington having an early opportunity to join the RN as a Midshipmen."

Didn't I say that in the second post here? :-) He had served with his half brother, Lawerence, under Admiral Vernon (name sound familiar?) and according to Brumwell, young George had his bags all packed but his mother said no way.

So the George thing about seeking a Royal Commission is a bit of a myth, as he wanted to be a colonel with his own VA regiment, not unlike the other two Provincial units that had been taken on the rolls – Shirely (50th) and Pepperell's (51st) regiments – both taken at Oswego and subsequently struck off the rolls. That's why the Royal American Regiment was origianlly the 62nd, before being bumped down two.

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Why would rich guy want to be a junior officer when he would rather be a General. Not a mute point? Seeing as he took over the whole colony in the end talk about a coup.
Cheers God save the King but save me first is it not?

On a side note--I seem to recall that a colonial commission was still junior to its British equivalent ie a British Major outranked a Colonial Major even though they were of "equal" rank. I do wonder if the rank equivalents were more pronounced--could a British Lieutenant or Captain overrule a Colonial Major?? Sorry to hijack thread…

If the Colonial regiment was "taken on to the establishment", no.
I would be interested to know how many ranks were superior.

As I recall from Farwell, Guards ranks were also one grade superior. Or something like that.

In Britain a junior commission in the army or navy was probably a good career move for the younger son of a gentleman. I suspect for a colonial whose father was willing to spend the same money, there were better options available.

Yes, King's commissions outranked a colonial one – which was a sore point. Washington was a Lt Colonel at Fort Necessity, but the Captain of the Independent Company would not take his orders, though he often agreed to work with him. It was a society if classes.

I don't think it was a class thing in the social sense, more a military recognition that a Provincial commission was less than a King's commission – in much the same way that a militia commission in England or Ireland would have been subordinate.

Brunwell makes a good argument that, at least in the AWI, Washington was very class conscious, especially for his officers. My typo (if???) comment was that I believe the 18th century was a very class conscious society, though there were some chances for advancement based on ability as well.

But somehow I bet that Independent Company Captain (McKay) looked down his nose at the young Virginia officer, part through professional military experience, and part mother country vs. provindial. :-)

Having just finished a second reading of Brumwell's book on Washington, I will say that had he been willing to accept a commission as a Captain in a Regular regiment, rather than the wholesale transfer, and thus his own elevation, of the Virginia Regiment to the Regular Establishment, I think GW would have been a Soldier for the King.

His temperament, relationship with the Fairfax's, and limited views prevented him from taking the long view, as it were, and allowing himself to seek that sort of entry.

My two shillings worth, of course.

Eric