[14] 3 of his 29 midshipmen refused and were sent back home to resign their positions, but the Department of the Navy disagreed with Ridgely's policy and allowed them to remain in service.

[14] On January 14, 1821, Ridgely arrived aboard the Constellation in Valparaíso, Chile to relieve John Downes, the previous commander of the Pacific Squadron, and the USS Macedonian.

[14] He grew sympathetic towards the Spanish and offered political asylum to the former Viceroy of Peru, Joaquín de la Pezuela, aboard the Constellation, to the protest of the independence fighters.

[14] Ridgely and HMS Conway independently and unsuccessfully tried to capture the royalist semi-pirate Vicente Benavides, who operated against local patriot vessels and against American shipping in the Pacific.

[14] Ridgely requested additional support from the US Navy as his lone frigate was significantly outgunned by the British and French squadrons.

[14] From 1827 to 1830, Ridgely served as the flag officer of the West Indies Squadron and engaged in anti-piracy activities.