Between the 17th and 19th centuries, [[Officer (armed forces)|Commissionedofficer's officecommission]] in the English[[infantry]] and later [[British Armycavalry]] couldunits beof purchasedthe for[[English eitherArmy|English]] infantryand or[[British cavalryArmy|British regimentsarmies]] fromcould thebe 17th to 19th centuriespurchased. This avoided the need to wait to be promoted for merit or seniority, and was the usual way to obtain a [[commissionCommission (document)|commission]] in theboth Armyarmies. The practice began in 1683, during the reign of [[Charles II of England|King Charles II]], and continued to exist until it was abolished on 1 November 1871, as part of the [[Cardwell Reforms]]. Formally, the purchase price of a commission was a cash bond for good behaviour, liable to be forfeited if the officer in question was found guilty of cowardice, desertion, or [[gross misconduct]].
