He became First Naval Lord in February 1852 and in that capacity he ensured that all new warships being procured were propelled by steam and he also increased the size of the active fleet.

[1] He transferred to the fifth-rate HMS Narcissus in 1801, and having been promoted to lieutenant on 24 September 1804, took part in the capture of the Cape of Good Hope in January 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars.

[3] Parker commanded the naval forces at the siege of Machias in September 1814 and took the surrender of the frigate USS President in January 1815 during the War of 1812.

[5] Promoted to rear-admiral on 23 November 1841,[6] Parker went on to be Admiral Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard, hoisting his flag in HMS Victory, in August 1842 and Commander of the Experimental Squadron in July 1845.

[1] Their son, Hyde Parker, was a captain in the Black Sea during the Crimean War and was killed on 8 July 1854 when storming a Russian fort at Sulina.