The master was the senior warrant officer and was responsible for the navigation of the ship and the ships sailing qualities.  He was responsible for setting courses, finding the ships position, supervising the midshipmen and mates taking their noon sightings and the maintenance of the ship's compass.  He was also responsible for sails, rigging, ships anchor, stowing of items in the hold and security and issue of spirits.   An additional responsibility was that the master had to sign all important documents such as the Muster Books, Pay Books, Tickets, etc.

He was responsible for his own tools, such as charts, reference books and instruments needed for navigation and astronomical observation.  He also kept the ships offical log book (those kept by the captain and the other officers were personal logs).

On ships of the line (2 deckers and above) the master was a member of the wardroom and had one of the better cabins.  His pay ranged from £12.12 on a 1st rate to £7.7 per lunar month on a 6th rate (in 1808).  On sloops, brigs and cutters they earned £6.6 per lunar month.  This meant on a 6th rate he earned less than a lieutenant, on a 5th rate he earned as much and on 4th rate and higher he earned more than a lieutenant.  His ranking, according to Lavery's Nelson's Navy was "With but after the lieutenants".   As part of his pay he was also allowed one servant and was allotted £11 8s per year to pay for one.  When on half pay they received 6 shillings per day.  And when prize money was distributed, the master had equal share with the Lieutenants, Marine Captains and Physician 1/8th total share.
 
 The position of Master, according to A Social History of the Navy, is it was decided that 2 captains were needed on large ships.  One was needed to Navigate and One to Fight.  Eventually the fighting captain directed the entire ship due to the need of a single command ( For an interesting view of sharing command of a ship, read about Vitus Bearing's voyage to discover Alaska, it was by committee).  Those ships became known as "Post Ships" and their captains were "Post Captains".  In smaller ships it was decided that the position would be combined to economize, so the master was to command.  They became known as Master and Commander.  But by 1794 the Admiralty finally accepted that they needed a separate master on smaller ships and dropped the term Master and Commander, leaving Commanders to command the smaller ships.

To become a Master, there was no particular path.  Some masters rose from the ranks via the quartermaster or master's mate berths.  Others were former midshipman or volunteers who had given up on the officer path (it was higher pay).  To qualify, the prospective master would be examined by a senior captain and 3 of the best qualified masters.  They could be either appointed a full master on a smaller ship or a second master on a third rate ship of the line or higher.  If appointed as a second, they would be given priority for their promotion to full master when the next vacancy occurred.

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