[1] Colvill came to Canada during the summer of 1757 with the rank of Captain R.N., in command of the 70-gun HMS Northumberland, which formed part of Vice-Admiral Holburne's fleet ordered to attack Louisbourg.

[1] On 19 March 1758, Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Hardy arrived at Halifax from England and took over the squadron with instructions from Vice-Admiral Edward Boscawen to blockade Louisbourg.

He served at the siege of Quebec as part of Rear-Admiral Philip Durell's force of great ships which patrolled the Gulf of St. Lawrence during the campaign.

On 16 October 1759, Colville was appointed by Vice-Admiral Charles Saunders, to the position of Commander-in-Chief in North America with the rank of commodore.

In April 1760, he led his squadron to Quebec to find that a small force under Captain Swanton on HMS Vanguard had relieved the British garrison which was under attack by 11,000 French troops commanded by General Lévis.

Next day, HMS Greyhound arrived with Admiralty instructions for Swanton to relieve Colville as commander-in-chief, with the rank of commodore.

Lord Colville was succeeded by Vice-Admiral of the Blue, Philip Durell, but the latter died on 26 August 1766 just four days after his arrival at Halifax.

He sailed for England on 5 September leaving instructions for Captain Joseph Deane of HMS Mermaid to take command until the arrival of a new Commander-in-Chief.