In 1791, his name was put on the books of the Vengeance, commanded by his uncle, Thomas Pasley, and in 1793 of the Penelope, of which his brother Pulteney was first lieutenant.

[1] In 1803, Malcolm came home acting captain of the Eurydice, and on his arrival in England found that he had been previously promoted by the admiralty on 29 December 1802.

In 1804 he commanded the Raisonnable in the North Sea; and from 1806 to 1809 the Narcissus frigate, actively employed on the coast of France and Portugal; at Oporto in 1807 he was able to preserve British property from falling into the hands of the French.

[citation needed] In 1813, he went out to the West Indies with convoy; in 1814, he was cruising on the coast of Brazil; and on 18 July 1815, having been joined by the frigates Menelaus and Havannah, sloops Fly and Ferret, and schooner Sealark, he landed a party of seamen and marines at Corrijou (Koréjou, east of Abervrach on the coast of Brittany), stormed the battery, and brought out of the harbour three small armed vessels and a convoy under their protection.

[1] In September 1817, he fitted out the Sibylle, as flag-captain to Sir Home Popham in the West Indies, from which station he invalided in February 1819.