Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. naut.) a group or team without a stated hierarchy, where everyone concerned wishes to lead.

1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Captain copperthorne’s crew, all officers; a saying of a company where every one strives to rule.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.