In June 1803 he was appointed to HMS Northumberland, carrying the flag of Rear-admiral Alexander Cochrane, at first off Ferrol, and later on in the West Indies, where, on 6 February 1806, he was present in the Battle of St. Domingo.
He was then appointed by the admiral acting commander of HMS Dolphin, and, in succession, of several other ships; but his rank was not confirmed till 15 February 1808.
On the special recommendation of the commander-in-chief, Sir Francis Laforey promoted him to post rank on 1 August 1811.
[1] Tucker was ordered to refit Cherub for foreign service, and early in December sailed for South America, and on to the Pacific, where, at the Juan Fernández Islands, he joined Captain James Hillyar of HMS Phoebe.
He assisted in the capture of USS Essex, near Valparaíso, on 28 March 1814, a fight in which Tucker was severely wounded.
On 4 July 1840 he was nominated a Companion of the Order of the Bath; and on 1 October 1846 was put on the retired list, with the rank of rear-admiral.