On 4 June 1779 he was admitted one of the nautical scholars of Christ's Hospital, where he continued for upwards of six years, though for part of the time (14 July 1781–31 Jan. 1784) he was borne on the books of the Grana as servant of the purser, Joseph Withers, presumably his uncle.
In May 1793 he entered on board the Agamemnon, then newly commissioned by Captain Horatio Nelson, to whom his North Walsham connection had probably introduced him.
During this time he had seen much exceptional service; had been landed at Bastia and Calvi; had been wounded at Oneglia on 29 August 1795, and been captured at Vado in November (Nicolas, Nelson Despatches, ii.
On the day after the battle of Cape St. Vincent he was made lieutenant into the prize-ship Salvador del Mundo (15 Feb. 1797, confirmed 22 March).
From February 1798 to December 1800 he was serving in the Terrible in the Channel, with Sir Richard Hussey Bickerton, as afterwards in the Kent in the Mediterranean and on the coast of Egypt till August 1802, when he was made acting commander of the expedition.