The Commanding General of the United States Army was the title given to the service chief and highest-ranking officer of the United States Army (and its predecessor the Continental Army), prior to the establishment of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army in 1903. During the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), the title was Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. In 1783, the title was simplified to Senior Officer of the United States Army. In 1821, the title was changed to Commanding General of the United States Army. The office was often referred to by various other titles, such as "Major General Commanding the Army" or "General-in-Chief". From 1789 until its abolition in 1903, the position of commanding general was legally subordinate to the United States Secretary of War; (senior member of the President's Cabinet), but was replaced by the creation of the statutory Chief of Staff of the Army by action of the United States Congress in 1903 under 26th President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919, served 1901-1909).

Officeholders

† denotes people who died in office.

Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army

Senior Officer of the United States Army (1783-1903)

Commanding General of the United States Army (1821-1903)

Timeline