 He studied navigation and became a midshipman on the Company ship "Winchelsea".He sailed to India and China in 1758-60 and was made third mate in the "Hector" and then captain of the "Triton", making his final voyage for the Company in 1777.He afterwards became a director of the company (1786–9, 1791–4, 1796–9, 1801–04, 1806–09, 1811–13–14, 1816–19, 1821–24).