General

General, one of the highest ranks in the ground and air forces of most countries, the title used to address any officer above the rank of colonel. There are five levels in the United States: in ascending order, brigadier general, major general, lieutenant general, and general. The term is also used as a suffix to denote military or civilian officers of wider range of authority than their subordinates, as in the modern terms postmaster general and inspector general. The term was first used in its present sense in England around the end of the 16th century when a general was the commander in chief of the army, a lieutenant general was second in command and commander of the cavalry, and a major general was chief of staff and commander of foot troops. In the 17th century the first lords of the admiralty were called generals at sea. Later the rank of field marshal was made superior to that of general in the armies of Europe.