Commodore (Royal Navy) Commodore (Royal Navy) Commodore (Cdre) is a rank of the Royal Navy above captain and below rear admiral. It has a NATO ranking code of OF-6. The rank is equivalent to brigadier in the British Army and Royal Marines and to air commodore in the Royal Air Force. The rank of commodore was introduced during the 17th century in November 1674 (though not legally established until 1806). In 1684 the navy introduced two classes of commodore, the first known as a "Commodore Distinction" and the other a "Commodore Ordinary"; these would later evolve into commodores first and second class. In
John Wilson (Royal Navy officer) John Wilson (Royal Navy officer) Rear Admiral John Crawford Wilson (1834 – 4 July 1885) was a Royal Navy officer who was appointed Commodore in command of the Australia Station. Wilson was born in 1834 to James Wilson, Chief Justice of Mauritius, and Margaret Crawford. He was the tenth of 12 children. Wilson was appointed a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1855. Promoted to captain in 1865, he was given command of HMS "Narcissus", HMS "Impregnable", HMS "Thunderer" and HMS "Wolverine". He was appointed Commodore in command of the Australia Station in 1878. In 1879, in response to the