Entered the royal navy in 1800; obtained his first commission on the 22d Feb. 1810; and subsequently served under Captains Charles Warde and the Hon. (now Sir Henry) Duncan, in the Banterer sloop and Glasgow frigate. He was made commander from the Victory 104, flag-ship at Portsmouth, Oct. 29th, 1827; appointed to the Dee steamship in June 1832; removed to the Phoenix steamer on the 6th Nov. 1833; and promoted to the. rank of captain Aug. 28th, 1834. The Dee was attached to the North Sea squadron, during the blockade of the Dutch ports in 1833; and afterwards conveyed Vice-Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm to Lisbon. The Phoenix attended Queen Adelaide to Rotterdam in the summer of 1834.