purchase of commisions

What Price Purchase?

Circa 1854

Royal Horse Guards

Commission Price Difference Annual Pay 

Cornet £1,200 £71 

Lieutenant £1,600 £400 £94 

Captain £3,500 £1,900 £206 

Major £5,350 £1,850 £350 

Lt. Colonel £7,250 £1,900 £427 

Life Guards

Commission Price Difference Annual Pay 

Cornet £1,260 £74 

Lieutenant £1,785 £525 £105 

Captain £3,500 £1,715 £206 

Major £5,350 £1,850 £315 

Lt. Colonel £7,250 £1,900 £427 

Dragoon Guards and Dragoons

Commission Price Difference Annual Pay 

Cornet £840 £50 

Lieutenant £1,190 £350 £70 

Captain £3,225 £2,035 £190 

Major £4,575 £1,350 £270 

Lt. Colonel £6,175 £1,600 £364 

Foot Guards

Commission Price Difference Annual Pay 

Ensign & Lieutenant £1,200 £71 

Lieutenant & Captain £2,050 £850 £121 

Captain & Lt. Col. £4,800 £2,750 £283 

Major £8,300 £3,500 £489 

Lt. Colonel £9,000 £700 £531 

Regiments of Line Infantry

Commission Price Difference Annual Pay 

Ensign £450 £27 

Lieutenant £700 £250 £41 

Captain £1,800 £1,100 £106 

Major £3,200 £1,400 £189 

Lt. Colonel £4,500 £1,300 £265 

i believe this also came from the website of the first foot guards - see below, if i am wrong my apologies to the real publisher

A grateful acknowledgment is given to: 

The Purchase System in The British Army, 1660-1871, Anthony Bruce, Royal Historical Society, London, 1980 

REPORT of the COMMISSIONERS appointed to inquire into the system of PURCHASE AND SALE of COMMISSIONS IN THE ARMY with EVIDENCE AND APPENDIX, Printed by George Edward Eyer and William Spottiswoode, printers to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, London, 1857