In the same year he entered the Royal Navy, originally as a Naval Cadet, a Captain noting at the time "Sir Lambton Loraine Bart.

"[5] Sir Lambton joined HMS Trincomalee at Valparaiso in early 1853, at the age of 14 years, and was a Midshipman aboard the ship until 1857 at the end of her second commission based in the Pacific.

In June 1873, the Niobe bombarded the Honduran fortress at Omoa, forcing the local commander to capitulate in a dispute with a British funded railway construction company.

[6] Since October 1870 the ship, Virginius, a sidewheel steamer over 200 ft (61m) long, capable of remarkable speed due to its powerful engines, was used to transport arms and men to aid the insurgencies against Spain in Cuba and Venezuela.

Loraine immediately sent the following communique to the Spanish Military Commander of Santiago, General Burriel: Military Commander of Santiago – Sir: I have no orders from my government, because they are not aware of what is happening; but I assume the responsibility and I am convinced that my conduct will be approved by Her Britannic Majesty, because my actions are pro-humanity and pro-civilisation, I demand that you stop this dreadful butchery that is taking place here.

In April 1874, this Captain now, whom had spent his teenage years on HMS Trincomalee, was in New York for 13 days during which he was a welcome recipient of an almost continued round of receptions and evidences of public and private esteem.

On 25 April he departed New York, the New York Times reporting: The vessel moved out of her dock a few minutes after 1 o’clock, Sir Lambton standing by the gangway with his umbrella raised, puffing quietly on his cigar and waving adieus with his hat to the little groups of friends on the pier, who sent him off with a hearty cheer.Sir Lambton became a retired captain in 1885, and a retired rear-admiral in 1889, dying at the age of 78 on 13 May 1917.