[3] He was appointed to command the sloop HMS Pylades and despatched to escort a convoy from Falmouth to the Mediterranean.

[3] Bligh remained in command of the Pylades for the next three years, distinguishing his time aboard her with the capture of the French privateer Grand Napoleon on 2 May 1808.

A few days earlier, on 26 April, Bligh had also captured the French tartane St Honoré, which had been carrying 700 musket barrels and locks.

[10] Bligh was promoted to post-captain on 27 December 1808 and by early 1809 he was aboard HMS Glatton, escorting a convoy back to England from Malta.

[3] He was then appointed to the 18-gun sloop HMS Acorn, which was part of the British squadron protecting their base on the island of Lissa.

When three suspicious sails were sighted early in the morning of 28 November, the British squadron put to sea, leaving Bligh, in Acorn, in charge of the station while the rest of the squadron fought an action the next day that resulted in a British victory.