On February 25, 1893, President Benjamin Harrison signed an Executive Order, distributed by the Secretary of the Navy via General Order No. 409, establishing the monthly pay for those enlisted in the United States Navy. In the order, "Chief" was officially applied to a select few ratings.
On March 13, 1893, the Navy Department informed the fleet, via U.S. Navy Regulation Circular No. 1, that the Navy's regulations will contain the classification of "Chief Petty Officer" effective April 1, 1893, thereby officially establishing the rank of Navy Chief Petty Officer.
Navy Department General Order 409
| GENERAL ORDER No. 409 | WASHINGTON, February 25, 1893 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
The following Executive Order is published for the information and guidance of all persons concerned. B.F. Tracy, | ||||
| EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D.C., February 25, 1893 | ||||
| On and after the 1st day of April, 1893, the pay of the Petty Officers and other enlisted men of the Navy shall be as follows, but this order shall not reduce the pay or rating of any enlisted man during his present enlistment, below the rate or pay at which he was enlisted, or in which he is now serving, unless he shall be reduced in rating as provided by law or regulations: | ||||
| RATING | Month Pay | RATING | Month Pay | |
| Chief Master-at-Arms | $65.00 | Painters | $30.00 | |
| Chief Boatswains' Mates | 50.00 | Carpenters' Mates, third class | 30.00 | |
| Chief Gunners' Mates | 50.00 | Fireman, first class | 35.00 | |
| Chief Quartermasters | 50.00 | Fireman, second class | 30.00 | |
| Master-at-Arms, first class | 40.00 | Shipwrights | 25.00 | |
| Boatswains' Mates, first class | 40.00 | Sailmakers | 25.00 | |
| Gunners' Mates, first class | 40.00 | Coal Passers | 22.00 | |
| Quartermasters, first class | 40.00 | Bandmasters | 52.00 | |
| Schoolmasters | 40.00 | Yeoman | 60.00 | |
| Master-at-Arms, second class | 35.00 | Apothecaries | 60.00 | |
| Boatswains' Mates, second class | 35.00 | Writers, first class | 35.00 | |
| Gunners' Mates, second class | 35.00 | First Musicians | 36.00 | |
| Quartermasters, second class | 35.00 | Writers, second class | 30.00 | |
| Master-at-Arms, third class | 30.00 | Writers, third class | 25.00 | |
| Coxswains (1) | 30.00 | Musicians, first class | 32.00 | |
| Gunners' Mates, third class | 30.00 | Musicians, second class | 30.00 | |
| Quartermasters, third class | 30.00 | Buglers | 30.00 | |
| Seamen Gunners | 26.00 | Baymen | 18.00 | |
| Seamen (2) | 24.00 | Ships' Cooks, first class | 35.00 | |
| Apprentices, first class | 21.00 | Ships' Cooks, second class | 30.00 | |
| Ordinary Seamen | 19.00 | Ships' Cooks, third class | 25.00 | |
| Apprentices, second class | 15.00 | Ships' Cooks, forth class | 20.00 | |
| Landsmen (3) | 16.00 | Stewards to Commanders-in-Chief | 45.00 | |
| Apprentices, third class | 9.00 | Stewards to Commandants | 45.00 | |
| Machinists | 70.00 | Cabin Stewards | 37.00 | |
| Chief Carpenters' Mates | 50.00 | Wardroom Stewards | 24.00 | |
| Boilermakers | 60.00 | Steerage Stewards | 25.00 | |
| Coppersmiths | 50.00 | Warrant Officers' Stewards | 24.00 | |
| Blacksmiths | 50.00 | Cooks to the Commander-in-Chief | 45.00 | |
| Carpenters' Mates, first class | 40.00 | Cooks to Commandants | 40.00 | |
| Plumbers and Fitters | 45.00 | Cabin Cooks | 32.00 | |
| Water Tenders | 38.00 | Wardroom Cooks | 32.00 | |
| Sailmakers' Mates | 40.00 | Steerage Cooks | 22.00 | |
| Oilers | 36.00 | Warrant Officers' Cooks | 20.00 | |
| Carpenters' Mates, second class | 35.00 | Mess Attendants | 16.00 | |
| Printers | 35.00 | |||
| (1) Coxswains detailed as Coxswains of steam launches, or as Coxswains to Commanders-in-Chief shall receive five dollars per month in addition to their pay. | ||||
| (2) Seamen in charge of Holds shall receive five dollars per month in addition to their pay. | ||||
| (3) Landsmen assigned to duty as Jacks-of-the-Dust or as Lamplighters shall receive five dollars per month in addition to their pay. | ||||
| Benjamin Harrison | ||||
U.S. Navy Regulation Circular No. 1 of 1893
| NAVY DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 13, 1893 | |||
| The following classification of petty officers and enlisted men in the Navy, and of the noncommissioned officers, musicians, and privates in the Marine Corps, is hereby adopted, to take effect on and after April 1, 1893: | |||
CLASSIFICATION | |||
| CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS | |||
| SEAMAN BRANCH | ARTIFICER BRANCH | SPECIAL BRANCH | MARINES |
| Chief Master-at-Arms Chief Boatswain's Mate Chief Gunner's Mate Chief Quartermaster | Machinist Chief Carpenter's Mate | Yeoman Apothecary | Sergeants Major First Sergeants in charge of guard |
| PETTY OFFICER, FIRST CLASS | |||
| Master-at-Arms, first class Boatswain's Mate, first class Gunner's Mate, first class Quartermaster, first class Schoolmaster | Boilermakers Carpenter Blacksmith Plumbers and Fitters Sailmaker's Mate Carpenter's Mate, first class Water Tender | First Musician Writers, first class | First Sergeant |
| PETTY OFFICER, SECOND CLASS | |||
| Master-at-Arms, second class Boatswain's Mate, second class Quartermaster, second class | Carpenter's Mate, second class Printers Oilers | Writers, second class | Sergeants |
| PETTY OFFICER, THIRD CLASS | |||
| Master-at-Arms, third class Coxswain Gunner's Mate, third class | Carpenter's Mate, third class Painters | Writers, third class | Corporals |
