Lieutenant
From PotC Wiki
Lieutenant was a rank held by officers in the British Royal Navy, French Navy, Spanish Royal Navy and East India Trading Company. The word was derived from French; the lieu meaning "place" as in a position; and tenant meaning "holding" as in "holding a position"; thus a "lieutenant" is somebody who holds a position in the absence of his superior.
Originally, the only two officer ranks in the Navy were lieutenant and captain. However, the most junior lieutenant was in charge of the ship's ensign, or national flag. Thereafter, ensign became the name of the lowest officer rank. Consequently, the officer second in rank to the ship's captain was the commander of the ship's boarding party, and the rank commander followed.
James Norrington held the position of Lieutenant during Weatherby Swann's crossing to the Caribbean from England. Shortly thereafter he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and, ultimately, Commodore.
