Commission and warrant books

The commission and warrant books in ADM 6 record appointments of officers to ships. They run from 1695 to 1849 and give the date, officer´s name, name of ship appointed to, rank, and sometimes reason for appointment. Manuscript name indexes to ADM 6/3-22 and ADM 6/61-72 are held in the Opening Reading Room, with a personal name index to ADM 6/15-16 and ADM 6/22-23.

Succession books and seniority lists

Succession books are arranged by ship´s name and by date. They list dates of appointment and discharge of commissioned and warrant officers. They are in various series ADM 6, ADM 8, ADM 11, ADM 12, ADM 29 and ADM 106 for different ranks.

Seniority lists are in ADM 118 and record dates of seniority for officers. They cover the period from 1717 to 1846.  A few earlier lists for captains are in ADM 6/424 for 1673 to 1754 and ADM 7/549 for 1652 to 1737. Seniority lists for medical officers are in series ADM 104 covering various dates from 1742 to 1926.

Applications for appointments or promotions

The majority of applications for employment can be found in Admiralty correspondence in ADM 1. Others can be found in ADM 6. Appointments to temporary or shore duties can be found in ADM 11. Promotions can also be found in ADM 6 and 11.

Summaries of confidential reports

Summaries of reports on the suitability of officers for promotion can be found for admirals and captains from 1893 to 1943 in ADM 196/86-94. Summaries on commanders from 1908 to 1931 are in ADM 196/125-128, indexed by ADM 196/129; summaries for Lieutenants and sub-lieutenants from 1885 to 1928 are in ADM 196/141-151, indexed by ADM 196/138-139. Records for other ranks are also available: mates and acting mates from 1913 to 1930 are in ADM 196/154-155; gunners from 1881 to 1912 are in ADM 6/462 and ADM 196/166; paymasters covering various dates from 1884 to 1939 are in ADM 196/173, 175-176.