 In 1802 he was promoted to commander and in 1803 took command of the sloop HMS "Bittern" in the Mediterranean, catching the eye of Lord Horatio Nelson, who was impressed by him and in 1805 promoted him to captain in command of the frigate HMS "Amfitrite".Whilst in command of "Bittern" he chased a French privateer, "Hirondelle" for 36 hours in a flat calm, with his crew at the sweeps the whole time.Four months later he moved to HMS "Seahorse" and in 1806 was transferred to the Jamaica station.