8 , ▁he ▁became ▁command ing ▁officer ▁of ▁the ▁p addle ▁s loop ▁HMS ▁F ury ▁on ▁the ▁East ▁Ind ies ▁and ▁China ▁Station ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 8 5 8 . ▁He ▁was ▁second - in - command ▁of ▁a ▁naval ▁brig ade ▁which ▁land ed ▁in ▁China , ▁but ▁then ▁had ▁to ▁retre at ▁to ▁their ▁boats ▁after ▁facing ▁firm ▁resistance , ▁at ▁Battle ▁of ▁Tak u ▁Fort s ▁in ▁June ▁ 1 8 5 9 ▁during ▁the ▁Second ▁O pi um ▁War . ▁ ▁Prom oted ▁to ▁captain ▁on ▁ 1 8 ▁July ▁ 1 8 5 9 , ▁Com mer ell ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁be ▁command ing ▁officer ▁of ▁the ▁p addle ▁fr ig ate ▁HMS ▁Magic ienne ▁on ▁the ▁East ▁Ind ies ▁and ▁China ▁Station ▁in ▁September ▁ 1 8 5 9 ▁and ▁command ing ▁officer ▁of ▁the ▁tur ret ▁ship ▁HMS ▁Sc orp ion ▁at ▁Port sm outh ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 8 6 5 . ▁After ▁that ▁he ▁became ▁command ing ▁officer ▁of ▁the ▁fr ig ate ▁HMS ▁Ter rible ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 8 6 6 ▁and ▁assist ed ▁the ▁SS ▁Great ▁Eastern ▁to ▁lay ▁the ▁fifth ▁( and ▁first ▁successful ) ▁Atlantic ▁cable . ▁He ▁was ▁appointed ▁a ▁Comp an ion ▁of ▁the ▁Order ▁of ▁the ▁Bath ▁( c ivil ▁division ) ▁on ▁ 2 ▁November ▁ 1 8 6 6 ▁and ▁became ▁command ing ▁officer ▁of ▁the ▁tur ret ▁ship ▁HMS ▁Mon arch ▁in ▁the ▁Channel ▁Squadron ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 8 6