General

General, in the U.S. Army and Air Force and in the ground and air forces of most countries, the title used to address any officer above the rank of colonel, including, 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 toward the close of the 16th century in England when the general was the commander in chief of the army, the lieutenant general was second in command and commander of the cavalry, and the 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.

The title of general, although unofficially given to George Washington during the American Revolution, was first officially created in the United States by Congress in 1799. Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, Philip H. Sheridan, and John J. Pershing were the only men to hold this rank permanently until World War II, when many generals were appointed. The U.S. Army and Air Force chiefs of staff hold this title by statutory designation, as do several others holding high-ranking positions. The insignia in the U.S. is four silver stars on each shoulder strap and collar lapel. In December 1944, the rank of general of the army was created, with an insignia of five silver stars, in order to make U.S. commanders equal to European field marshals. This rank was held by Omar N. Bradley, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, and George C. Marshall, as well as Henry H. Arnold of the Air Force. Previously, general of the army had been an honorary rank, conferred only on Pershing after World War I.