He served an extensive career in the Spanish Navy starting at the age of 16 until his death in 1806.

In 1754 he was promoted to the rank of capitán de fragata and sent to the Americas as a commissary named by the King with the objective of helping with the demarcation of the limits between Spain and Portugal's holdings.

During this charge Solano spent seven years traveling the Orinoco River and its tributaries as well as making several trips to Bogota in pursuit of additional funding from the Viceroy to support his efforts.

In 1762, after war broke out with Britain, he took command of Rayo, a ship of the line built in Havana.

For his role in the Siege of Pensacola where he came to the aid of Governor Bernardo de Gálvez in March 1781, Solano was promoted to lieutenant general in 1782.