General of the Armies (Six-Star General)

The highest ranking officers of the American army during the Revolutionary war were Brigadier Generals and Major Generals, with the exception of George Washington. Their insignia was one or two stars worn on a golden epaulette. Washington was the highest ranking officer and held the title of “General and Commander in Chief” of the Continental Army. His epaulettes had three stars.

Just one year before his death in 1799, Washington was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant General. Washington never exercised active authority in this new rank, which was bestowed upon him by President John Adams during the Franco-American War in order to frighten the French.

In an act passed on March 3, 1799, Congress stated, "that a Commander of the United States shall be appointed and commissioned by the style of General of the Armies of the United States and the present office and title of Lieutenant General shall thereafter be abolished." No one, however, was appointed to this proposed rank, and at his death, George Washington was listed as a lieutenant general on the rolls of the United States Army.

After the Revolution, the Army, at first, had no active duty general offices. When general officer ranks were recreated, the highest rank was Major General, with the senior Major General on the Army rolls referred to as the Commanding General of the United States Army.

The ranks of Lieutenant General and General were reauthorized temporarily during World War I, and John J Pershing was promoted to the rank of General in October 1917. In recognition of his performance commanding the American Expeditionary Force, Pershing was promoted to the rank of “General of the Armies” on September 3, 1919. After the war ended, the Lieutenant Generals and Generals reverted to their permanent rank of Major General. Pershing, however, retained his rank as “General of the Armies” until his death in 1948.

Because the rank of “General of the Armies” had not existed prior to Pershing’s appointment, he was given the choice of the design of the insignia he would wear. He chose to continue wearing the four stars of a General, but in gold, instead of the silver color used on the insignia of the regular general. However, no official insignia was assigned to the rank, and when the five-star rank of “General of the Army” was created during World War II, a design was proposed for an insignia which incorporated a sixth star into the five-star general insignia. This design has never been made official due to the fact that no new “General of the Armies” has been appointed.

When the five-star rank of General of the Army was established during World War II, it was decided that General Pershing, who was still living at the time, would be senior to all of the new General of the Army officers. Military regulations do not declare the “General of the Armies” to be a six-star rank, however historians have understood General Pershing’s seniority to mean that “General of the Armies” is a six-star rank.

In 1945, and again in 1955, attempts were made to promote General Douglas MacArthur to the rank of “General of the Armies”. However, due to the fact that General George C. Marshall was senior to MacArthur and because of other complications that would arise, MacArthur declined the promotion at the second attempt.

In 1976, Congress past a joint resolution, which was approved by President Ford, that posthumously appointed George Washington to the rank of “General of the Armies”. This action, which was made retroactive to July 4, 1776, was taken in order to maintain Washington’s seniority above all military officers of the United States, including Pershing.