8 1 5 ▁during ▁the ▁War ▁of ▁ 1 8 1 2 . ▁He ▁became ▁First ▁Naval ▁Lord ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 8 5 2 ▁and ▁in ▁that ▁capacity ▁he ▁ens ured ▁that ▁all ▁new ▁war ships ▁being ▁proc ured ▁were ▁prop elled ▁by ▁steam ▁and ▁he ▁also ▁increased ▁the ▁size ▁of ▁the ▁active ▁fleet . ▁ ▁Early ▁career ▁ ▁The ▁second ▁of ▁three ▁sons ▁of ▁Admir al ▁Sir ▁Hy de ▁Parker ▁and ▁Anne ▁Parker ▁( née ▁Bot eler ), ▁Parker ▁joined ▁the ▁Royal ▁Navy ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 7 9 6 . ▁After ▁initial ▁training ▁at ▁the ▁Royal ▁Naval ▁Academy ▁at ▁Port sm outh ▁he ▁joined ▁the ▁fifth - rate ▁HMS ▁Camb rian . ▁He ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁fifth - rate ▁HMS ▁N arc iss us ▁in ▁ 1 8 0 1 , ▁and ▁having ▁been ▁promoted ▁to ▁lieutenant ▁on ▁ 2 4 ▁September ▁ 1 8 0 4 , ▁took ▁part ▁in ▁the ▁capture ▁of ▁the ▁Cape ▁of ▁Good ▁Hope ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 8 0 6 ▁during ▁the ▁Napole onic ▁Wars . ▁He ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁fr ig ate ▁HMS ▁Vol ont aire ▁later ▁that ▁year ▁and , ▁having ▁been ▁promoted ▁to ▁commander ▁on ▁ 2 2 ▁January ▁ 1 8 0 6 , ▁took ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁s loop ▁HMS ▁Prom ethe us ▁in ▁March ▁ 1 8 0 7 ▁for ▁the ▁C open hagen ▁expedition . ▁ ▁Prom oted ▁to ▁captain ▁on ▁ 1 3 ▁October ▁ 1 8 0 7 , ▁Parker ▁was ▁given ▁command ▁of ▁the