On 18 February 1846, Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft issued the General Order to change “Larboard” to “Port” for identification of the left side of a sailing vessel. “Larboard” was too similar to “Starboard,” which identifies the right side of a sailing vessel. To read the General Order, please click here for the Navy Library’s Online Reading Room: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq59-10.htm