Admiral of the Navy (Six-Star Admiral)

The rank of Admiral of the Navy is the highest rank in the U.S. Navy and has been held by only one man in the history of the Navy. In March 1899, Congress authorized a single officer to hold the rank of Admiral, and promoted Dewey to this rank in recognition of his victory at Manila Bay in 1898. Later, on 24 March 1903, Dewey's rank was established as Admiral of the Navy, by a Congressional Act, effective retroactively to March 1899. It was specified that this rank was senior to the four-star rank of Admiral and was equal to Admiral of the Fleet in the British Royal Navy. The rank lapsed with the death of Admiral Dewey on 16 January 1917.

Insignia worn by Dewey as Admiral of the Navy

When the five-star rank of Fleet Admiral was established during World War II, the Department of the Navy specified that the new rank would be junior to Dewey's rank of Admiral of the Navy, which became viewed as a six-star rank. However, as there has never been an Admiral of the Navy and a Fleet Admiral serving at the same time, the six-star rank status has not been totally confirmed.

During the preparations for the invasion of Japan, a proposal was raised by the Navy Department to appoint Chester Nimitz to the rank of Admiral of the Navy or grant him some equivalent rank. The proposal, however, was dropped after the Japanese surrender, and the United States Navy has never officially appointed anyone to the rank of six-star admiral. Even so, Admiral of the Navy is considered senior to the rank of Fleet Admiral and the equivalent of the Army's rank of General of the Armies.