Promoted to command the 50-gun HMS Centurion Lind had another opportunity to distinguish himself, when the convoy under his protection was attacked in the harbour of Vizagapatnam by a heavily armed French squadron under Rear-Admiral Charles-Alexandre Durand Linois.

Despite being on shore at the time Lind hurried back to take command and supervise operations to resist the French, who though were able to capture one of the merchants, decided not to risk pressing the attack on the Centurion and withdrew.

The survival of the Centurion in the face of overwhelming forces was hailed as a great achievement back home in Britain, with Lind being knighted for his efforts.

Lind transferred again on 10 March 1772, joining the 68-gun HMS Northumberland, which at that time was the flagship of Admiral Sir Robert Harland.

[2] The Nootka Sound crisis in 1790 led to a general rearmament, and Lind joined the 80-gun HMS Gibraltar under Captain Samuel Goodall.

[2] He was second lieutenant aboard the Princess Royal, which was stationed in the Mediterranean, and two years after the start of the French Revolutionary Wars, Lind was promoted to commander on 2 November 1795.

[2][3] The Wilhelmina was part of a force despatched under Sir Home Popham to pass through the Red Sea and attack the French in Egypt.

[5] Realising his opponent's mistake Lind pretended to make an attempt to escape, imitating the actions of a merchant ship.

Lind promptly returned a broadside of his own which killed three of the Alfred's crew and wounded six, revealing the Sheerness to be a fully armed frigate.

[7] Lieutenant James Robert Phillips had been left in command while Lind was on shore, and opened fire on the approaching French.

[10] Having grabbed a prize Linois moved his ships away from the harbour and departed, declining to continue to press the attack on Centurion.