Obtained his first commission in July 1804; served as lieutenant under Sir James Saumarez and Lord Gambier, in the Victory and Caledonia, first rates, on the Baltic and Channel stations, and was promoted to the rank of commander, for conducting an explosion vessel into the road of Isle d’Aix, April 11th, 1809. He married, in 1816, Susanna Eliza, daughter of Nathaniel Godbold, of London, Esq.