Commenced his naval career on the 1st Jan. 1796, as volunteer on board the Daphne hired armed lugger, of 18 guns, commanded by Lieutenant Robert Pearson, and employed in keeping up a communication with the French royalists on the coast of Normandy. From Sept. 1st following until April 6th, 1797, he served on board the Bravo 16, Captain D’Auvergne, Prince of Bouillon, commanding the Jersey flotilla. At the latter date he joined the Monarch 74, Captain John Elphinstone, attached to the Channel fleet; and on the 11th July 1797, followed that officer into the Queen Charlotte first rate, bearing the flag of Lord Keith, in which ship he continued until June 4th, 1798. He subsequently served, for nearly two years and a half, under Captain (now Vice-Admiral) Ross Donnelly, in the Maidstone frigate, principally employed on the West India and North American stations. During this period, he suffered most severe sickness, having had three attacks of yellow fever, and but for the extreme, we may say almost parental, kindness of Captain Donnelly, he could scarcely have survived. In Oct. 1800, we find him proceeding in the Chichester store-ship, Captain John Stephens, and afterwards in the Salamine brig. Captain (now Rear-Admiral) Thomas Briggs, to rejoin Lord Keith, then in the Foudroyant 80, Captain Philip Beaver, on the Mediterranean station. During the Egyptian campaign, he was removed into the Peterel sloop, in which vessel he served, as master’s mate, under Captains Charles Inglis, and John Lamborn, till Mar. 12th, 1802.