[1] Boyle joined the Royal Navy on 22 January 1748, initially serving as an ordinary seaman on the 12-gun yacht HMS Dublin.

He passed his examination for promotion to the rank of lieutenant on 16 November, having left Anson ten days earlier.

Between 7 January and 10 February of the following year Boyle fought at the Invasion of Martinique, subsequently leaving Modeste on 27 April.

[1] A long period of half pay followed until Boyle was given command of the 74-gun ship of the line HMS Thunderer on 23 February 1778.

Sent to serve in the West Indies, Boyle was killed when Thunderer was wrecked off San Domingo in the Great Hurricane of 1780 on 5 October.