Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a publican, an innkeeper [his trad. blue apron].

1731		R. Herrick Poor Robin’s Almanac n.p.: As soon as customers begin to stir, the Admiral of the Blue, cries, ‘Coming, sir!’.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: A landlord or publican wearing a blue apon, as was formerly the custom among gentlemen of that vocation.
1793		J. Caulfield Blackguardiana.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1822		R. Nares Gloss. (1888) I 8: †admiral of the blue, was the old popular term for a tapster, from the colour of his apron.
1838		W. Holloway Dict. of Provincialisms 1/1: Admiral of The Blue, A publican.
1846		Swell’s Night Guide 107/1: Admiral of the Blues, [...] persons wearing blue aprons.

2. one who is suffering from delirium tremens.

1846

Swell’s Night Guide 107/1: Admiral of the Blues, persons afflicted with the blue devils.

3. a policeman.

1846

Swell’s Night Guide 107/1: Admiral of the Blues, [...] policemen.

a drunkard who vomits over his neighbour at table.

1650		Eighth Liberal Science n.p.: He that having over-drunk himself utters his Stomack, in his next fellows Boots or Shoes, they call Admirall of the Narrow-Seas.
1674		Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) n.p.: Q. Who is the Admiral amongst them of the narow Seas? A. He that utters his Stomach in his next fellows Boots.
c.1786		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue ms. additions n.p.: Admiral of the Narrow Seas. One who vomits from drunkenness into his opposite companions lap. Sea Phrase.
1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn) n.p.: Admiral of the Narrow Seas. One who from drunkenness vomits into the lap of the person sitting opposite to him.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.

a heavy drinker, as borne out by their red face.

[c.1596		Shakespeare Henry IV pt 2 III:3: Thou art our admiral, thou bearest the lanthern in the poop, but 'tis in the nose of thee].
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict. 66: ‘ADMIRAL OF THE RED,’ a person whose very red face evinces a fondness for strong potations.

an over-dressed, flashy beadle or other minor, uniformed official.

1937–84

Partridge DSUE (1984) 2/2: C.19.

a coward.

1937–84

Partridge DSUE (1984) 6/1: mid-C.19–early 20. Never very much used.