Marshal is the highest title in the armies of many countries. Marshal is also the title of a police officer having the same powers and duties as a sheriff in many small towns or villages.
In England, the word marshal was used to mean commander of the army as early as the 1100’s. The countries of Europe have given the title marshal to top-ranking military commanders. Joseph Stalin, dictator of the Soviet Union, used the title marshal during World War II (1939-1945). The British Army uses the title field marshal, and the head of the British air forces is called an air marshal.
In the United States, officers of the federal court are called United States marshals. They open and close sessions of district courts and courts of appeals, and may serve writs, orders, and other processes of the courts in their districts. Deputy United States marshals can make arrests for violation of federal laws. A United States marshal is assigned to each federal court district.
Temporary police are sometimes called marshals, and in some towns the head of the fire department is called the fire marshal.
