After briefly serving in the War of 1812 off the coast of Virginia, Oliver retired from the Navy, settling near Dublin, where he was an active member of religious societies until his death in 1850.

[1] Oliver was not employed in the interwar years, but in 1790 he was promoted to lieutenant during the Spanish Armament and remained in service in the frigate HMS Active in the North Sea.

In 1794 he moved to the frigate HMS Artois under Captain Edmund Nagle that formed part of the squadron under Commodore Sir John Borlase Warren.

The following year he took command of the larger frigate HMS Mermaid operating in the Mediterranean and in 1802 he convoyed General Lord Hutchinson back to Britain.

[1] In recognition of his assistance at Trafalgar, Oliver was given command of the ship of the line HMS Mars, whose captain, George Duff had been killed in the battle.