 He saw action off the Persian Gulf in 1839 and then, following the death of Frederick Maitland in November 1839, served under Commodore James Bremer at the Capture of Chusan in July 1840, at the Second Battle of Chuenpi in January 1841 and at the Battle of the Bogue in February 1841 during the First Opium War.He also commanded the 1st naval battalion during the Battle of Canton in May 1841 for which he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the Bath on 29 June 1841.He remained on the station and, after taking part in the Battle of Amoy in August 1841, fought at some of the later battles under Rear Admiral Sir William Parker including the Capture of Chusan in October 1841, the Battle of Ningpo in March 1842, the Battle of Woosung in June 1842 and the Battle of Chinkiang in July 1842 which ultimately led to the Treaty of Nanking ending the war in August 1842.