Appointment as Officer - early 1800's

[Gordon]

I'm tracing a relative who was appointed an ensign in 1807 in the 79th Higlanders and worked his way up to Captain before retiring in 1830.

I need some assistance on how these appointments came about. Didn't these cost some money? Could someone who was more of a "commoner" wiggle his way into this position?

I see on retirement he sold sold his commission. Also sold his company to one individual, his lieutenancy to another and his ensigncy to a third.

Would someone receive a pension for such service? Finally, unrelated to this person, what is retiring on "half pay"?

[Currie]

Hello Gordon,

There’s a fair bit of information scattered about regarding sale and purchase of commissions in the British Army. This wiki gives some good basics. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sale_of_commissions

But for some heavier reading on the subject see ”The Law Relating to Officers in the Army” By Harris Prendergast, 1855. In particular: Page 56 - Chapter V. Sale and Purchase of Commissions, and Page 76 – Chapter VI. Pay, Half-pay, Pensions. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=tXA ... q=&f=false

P.76.
“Half-pay is a reduced allowance granted by the Crown, under the authority of Parliament, to commissioned officers, who, by leave of the superior authorities, retire temporarily from active duty. But this allowance, like full-pay, subsists only during the pleasure of the Crown, and may be stopped or suspended accordingly. By the receipt of half-pay, however, an officer continues subject to military authority so far as to be liable to resume full-pay and active duty whensoever he may be thereto required; the grant of half-pay being in the eye of the law, not merely a recognition of the past military character of the recipient, but an express stipulation for future services; and this stipulation continues in force until an officer obtains leave to retire from the army.”

P.86.
“Commissioned officers become entitled, under certain circumstances, to pensions, some of which are payable only to those who have retired from the service, while others are tenable by those engaged in active duty. The grant of such pensions is regulated entirely by the Government, and Parliament votes the supplies for the purpose. These pensions, however, are mere voluntary bounties from the Crown. They are not given by deed, or by letters patent, but merely by a royal warrant, which may be countermanded at the pleasure of the Sovereign. They, therefore, stand upon the same precarious legal footing as half-pay.”

If you’re interested in finding out all there is to know about the purchase system you probably couldn’t do any worse than to read this Parliamentary debate from 1868, as recorded in Hansard, when it was proposed that the system be abolished. You’ll find all sorts of arguments as to why it should stay and why it should go. Very interesting reading. http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/comm ... ommissions

“During the stress of the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny it lost sight of the fact that our troops objected to be officered by any but gentlemen; and in the five years between 1854 and 1858 no less than 483 soldiers were raised from the ranks. But when the danger was over, we went back to our old ways, and slammed the door of promotion in the faces of our rank and file. In the years 1861, 1862, and 1863, respectively, the promotion from the ranks numbered three, four, and eight.”

So the story seems to be that if there’s a War going on more vacancies develop and there are more opportunities for promotion from the ranks. Once the war has ended the chances are slim.

Hope that helps,
Alan

[Gordon]

Thanks, Alan. I appreciate your knowledge.