A ship's surgeon was a warrant post, although considered 'of wardroom rank' and so messed with other officers, Lieutenants and Marine Officers who were commissioned officers. The other warrant officers 'of wardroom rank' were the Purser, the Master and the Chaplain (in the rare cases the ship had one). Surgeon of the Fleet was a position not a rank and the occupant would proably be medically qualified and obviously a gentleman. But still a warrant officer.