Search Britain, Royal Navy, Navy Lists

You will find information including -
<ul>
<li>Name</li>
<li>Rank</li>
<li>Occupation</li>
<li>Seniority date (date of promotion)</li>
</ul>

For anyone with naval ancestors, the Navy List is a treasure trove — a meticulously compiled record that charts the careers of Britain’s officers across more than two centuries. First published in 1814, the Navy List began as an official quarterly register of all commissioned officers in the Royal Navy, including their ranks, seniority dates, and postings. Over time, it evolved into an indispensable directory for both naval administration and those with an interest in maritime history.

Earlier lists existed in less formal form, but the post-Napoleonic Navy List marked the beginning of consistent, government-issued records. From admirals commanding fleets to midshipmen just starting out, the names in these volumes form a living roll-call of the Royal Navy’s service to Britain and empire. As the 19th century progressed, the lists expanded to include Royal Marines officers, warrant officers, and even retired personnel. Later editions incorporated details of naval shore establishments, ships in commission, and appointments overseas.

There are 147 titles included in this collection. All are available to view via browse through the useful links. We are working to transcribe and make available the volumes listed below.

Transcribed
<ul>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 30 Jun 1945, vol 1</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 30 Jun 1945, vol 2</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 30 Jun 1945, vol 3</li>
<li>Navy List 1921 January</li>
<li>Navy List 1922 January</li>
<li>Navy List 1923 August</li>
<li>Navy List 1924 July</li>
<li>Navy List 1924 October</li>
<li>Navy List 1925 July</li>
<li>Navy List 1926 September</li>
<li>Navy List 1927 September</li>
<li>Navy List 1928 September</li>
<li>Navy List 1929 August</li>
<li>Navy List 1930 August</li>
<li>Navy List 1931 September</li>
<li>Navy List 1932 September</li>
<li>Navy List 1933 August</li>
<li>Navy List 1934 July</li>
<li>Navy List 1935 July</li>
<li>Navy List 1936 July</li>
<li>Navy List 1937 July</li>
</ul>

Available through browse
<ul>
<li>The Navy List, 1827</li>
<li>List of the Flag Officers & Other Commissioned Officers, 1831</li>
<li>List of the Officers of Royal Marines, 1831</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Mar 1835</li>
<li>The New Navy List, Jan 1847</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Jun 1848</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Dec 1848</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Jun 1849</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Dec 1849</li>
<li>The New Navy List, Jan 1850</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Jun 1850</li>
<li>The New Navy List, Jan 1852</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Dec 1852</li>
<li>The New Navy List, Feb 1855</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Jun 1856</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Dec 1862</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Dec 1864</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Dec 1868</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Mar 1876</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Dec 1876</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Sep 1877</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Jun 1878</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Dec 1879</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Sep 1881</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 20 Jun 1884</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Feb 1913</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Mar 1913</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Apr 1913</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 May 1913</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jun 1913</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jul 1913</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Aug 1913</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Sep 1913</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Oct 1913</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Nov 1913</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Dec 1913</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jan 1914</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Feb 1914</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Mar 1914</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Apr 1914</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 May 1914</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jun 1914</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jul 1914</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Aug 1914</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Sep 1914</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Oct 1914</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Nov 1914</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Dec 1914</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Mar 1915</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jun 1915</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Sep 1915</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Dec 1915</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Mar 1916</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jun 1916</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Sep 1916</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Dec 1916</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Mar 1917</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jun 1917</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Sep 1917</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Dec 1917</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Mar 1918</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jun 1918</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Sep 1918</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Nov 1918</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Dec 1918</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jan 1919</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Feb 1919</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Apr 1919</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 19 May 1919</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jun 1919</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jul 1919</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Aug 1919</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Sep 1919</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Oct 1919</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Nov 1919</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Dec 1919</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jan 1920</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Feb 1920</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Mar 1920</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Apr 1920</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 May 1920</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jun 1920</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jul 1920</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Aug 1920</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Sep 1920</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Oct 1920</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Nov 1920</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Dec 1920</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jan 1939</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Feb 1939</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Mar 1939</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Apr 1939</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 May 1939</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jun 1939</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jul 1939</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Aug 1939</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Nov 1939</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jan 1940</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Feb 1940</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Mar 1940</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Apr 1940</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 May 1940</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jul 1940</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Sep 1940</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Nov 1940</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jan 1941</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Mar 1941</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 May 1941</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jul 1941</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Sep 1941</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Nov 1941</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jan 1942</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Mar 1942</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 May 1942</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jul 1942</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Sep 1942</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Nov 1942</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jan 1943, vol 1</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jan 1943, vol 2</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Mar 1943, vol 1</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Mar 1943, vol 2</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 May 1943, vol 1</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 May 1943, vol 2</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jul 1943, vol 1</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jul 1943, vol 2</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Sep 1943, vol 1</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Sep 1943, vol 2</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Nov 1943, vol 1</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Nov 1943, vol 2</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jan 1944, vol 1</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Jan 1944, vol 2</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 31 Mar 1944, vol 1</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 31 Mar 1944, vol 2</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 31 May 1944, vol 1</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 31 May 1944, vol 2</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Sep 1944, vol 1</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Sep 1944, vol 2</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 18 Sep 1944, vol 3</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 30 Dec 1944, vol 1</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 30 Dec 1944, vol 2</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 30 Dec 1944, vol 3</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 31 Mar 1945, vol 1</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 31 Mar 1945, vol 2</li>
<li>The Navy List, corrected to 31 Mar 1945, vol 3</li>
</ul>