[After F. lieutenant-général, in which the second word is historically an adj. qualifying the preceding sb. In Eng., however, and app. also in Fr., general has been commonly apprehended as a sb.]
† 1. gen. One who exercises a delegated rule or command over some extensive region or department; the vicegerent of a kingdom, etc. (Cf. F. lieutenant général du royaume.) Obs.
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, xlvi. 176. Made hym seneschall & his leeftenaunt generall of the royalme.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 244. Duke of Glocester, leuetenaunt generall, and chiefetayne for ye kyng of Englande. Ibid., Hen. VI., 161 b. Longvile, lieuetenant generall for the Frenche kyng.
1701. Lond. Gaz., No. 3709/4. The King of Spain … has made the Count d’Estrees Lieutenant General of Spain at Sea.
transf. 1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 104. The Deuill himselfe, whose vicegerent or Liefetenant generall in his kingedome of impietie he [the Pope] shewes himselfe to be.
2. One who acts as deputy to a general. In the British army, an officer in rank next below a general, and next above a major-general. † Also lieutenant-general of the ordnance.
In the U.S. army the office has been held by only a few distinguished individuals beginning with Washington, and is now in abeyance.
1589. [T. Cates], Sir F. Drake’s W. Ind. Voy., 5. We descried another tall ship … vpon whom Maister Carleill, the Lieutenant generall, being in the Tiger, vndertooke the chase. [C. ‘commanded the land forces against the Spanish West Indies’ (Dict. Nat. Biog.).]
1618. Bolton, Florus, II. viii. (1636), 120. Scipio Africanus … serving voluntary under him [his brother] there, as Lieutenant General.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., II. § 26. The Earl of Essex was made lievetenant-general of the army.
a. 1671. Ld. Fairfax, Mem. (1699), 84. Lieutenant General Cromwell commanded the left wing of the horse.
1691–2. in Wood’s Life, 23 Jan. Commissions are under the seale to make the duke of Ormond and Sir John Lanier lieutenant generalls.
1702. Lond. Gaz., No. 3822/4. Her Majesty has been pleased to constitute … the Rt. Hon. John Granville Esq.; Lieutenant-General … of the Ordnance.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xvii. II. 37. The lieutenant-generals of the Roman armies, the military counts and dukes … were allowed the rank and title of Respectable.
1798. J. Adams, Wks. (1854), IX. 159. I … congratulate them and the public on this great event, the General’s [sc. Washington] acceptance of his appointment as Lieutenant-General and Commander-in-chief of the army.
1808. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp. (1837), IV. 73. I shall be the junior of the Lieutenant Generals; however I am ready to serve the government wherever and as they please.
1855. W. Sargent, Braddock’s Exped., 290. On 26th February, 1755, he was made … a lieutenant-general.
1878. J. A. Garfield, in N. Amer. Rev., CXXVI. 452. The office of lieutenant-general was virtually stripped of all authority.
transf. c. 1620. Day, Parlt. of Bees, Char. i. (1641), ’Gainst all these outlaws, Martin, bee thou Lievetenant Generall.
