Admiral is a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-9, outranked only by the rank admiral of the fleet. Royal Navy officers holding the ranks of rear admiral, vice admiral and admiral of the fleet are sometimes considered generically to be admirals. The rank of admiral is currently the highest rank to which an officer in the Royal Navy can be promoted (Admiral of the Fleet being in abeyance).
King Henry III of England appointed the first known Admiral of England naming Richard de Lucy on 29 August 1224 , he was followed by a Sir Thomas Moulton in 1264 , he also held the title of Keeper of the Sea and Sea Ports he was succeeded by Sir William de Laybourne, (the son of Sir Roger de Leybourne) as Admiral of the sea of the King of England being appointed in 1286 he held the rank of Admiral until 1294 serving under King Edward I of England. As the English Navy was expanding towards the end of the thirteenth century, new appointments of Admirals with specific geographic responsibilities were being created, Sir John de Botetourt was appointed Admiral of the North also known as Admiral of the Yarmouth Station in 1294 . Also in the same year the King appointed Sir William de Laybourne the dual commands of Admiral of the South or Admiral of the Portsmouth Station and also Admiral of West and Irish Sea' or Admiral of the Western Station. .
On the 18 July 1360 King Edward III of England appointed Sir John de Beauchamp Admiral of the King's Southern, Northern and Western Fleets the appointment gave the command of the English navy to one person for the first time, the post would evolve into the post of Admiral of the Fleet .