He achieved considerable success as one of the senior officers on the North American coast, conducting and organizing several highly effective raids and counter-strikes.

He was superseded however, and returned to Britain to play a role in the closing events of the war in European waters, before moving ashore to start a political career.

[1] Upon his return to the American colonies, Collier provided support for General William Howe's landing at Long Island, New York on 22 August 1776.

Collier followed up on his success the following month by destroying supplies at Machias, Maine, thereby ruining American plans for an invasion of Nova Scotia.

[1] One anecdote of Rainbow during this period was written by Captain Alexander McDonald, paymaster of the 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants), on 20 December 1778: ...Flanking Companies.

[2] The strength of his squadron had been drastically reduced by the departure of many of the ships to join the fleets of John Byron and William Hotham in the West Indies.

Nevertheless, Collier organised and carried out the highly successful Chesapeake raid on the Virginia coast with General Edward Mathew commanding the army contingent.

[2] On 30 May, Collier joined the British assault on Stony Point, New York providing support for Sir Henry Clinton, sinking an American rebel ship carrying loot and supplies removed from the fort.

During this time he learnt that the Americans had carried out a combined land and sea assault on a recently established British outpost on Penobscot Bay.

[6] Sir George had written a stage version of Beauty and the Beast prior to the American War of Independence, entitled Selima and Asor.

[6] He had also written an account of his visits to Paris and Brussels in the summer of 1773, which were published by his granddaughter in 1885 under the title France on the Eve of the Great Revolution.