Page "Warrant officer" Paragraph 2

The warrant officer corps began in the 13th century in the nascent English Royal Navy.

At that time, noblemen with military experience took command of the new Navy, adopting the military ranks of lieutenant and captain.

These officers often had no knowledge of life on board a ship — let alone how to navigate such a vessel — and relied on the expertise of the ship's master and other seamen who tended to the technical aspects of running the ship.

As cannon came into use, the officers also required gunnery experts.