He was promoted to senior assistant (overassistent) but fell foul of opperhoved P. Scheel and returned to Tranquebar in 1766 from where he continued to Bengal to enroll in the British army.

He served under Major-General Robert Clive, was promoted to captain, and, probably in Spanish service, took part in the conquest of Manila.

On his way back to Denmark, on board a ship to the Netherlands, he was captured by pirates and brought to Algiers where he was sold as a slave.

He purchased a house in Lille Strandstræde and commissioned the architect Hans Næss to undertake a comprehensive refurbishment of the property.

As part of the marriage agreement, with effect from 1 May 1774, he received the estate Tirsbæk at a low price as well as 10m000 rigsdaler in the gand as dowry.

He also purchased a property in the Vesterbro area of Aalborg and constructed a large town mansion (now Hotel Phønix).