1 8 4 2 . ▁He ▁was ▁appointed ▁to ▁the ▁third - rate ▁HMS ▁Corn wall is ▁and ▁saw ▁action ▁in ▁China ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 8 4 2 ▁during ▁the ▁First ▁O pi um ▁War . ▁He ▁then ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁p addle ▁fr ig ate ▁HMS ▁Fire brand ▁on ▁the ▁South ▁America ▁Station ▁and ▁was ▁present ▁at ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁V uel ta ▁de ▁O bl ig ado ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 8 4 5 ▁during ▁the ▁Uruguay an ▁Civil ▁War . ▁At ▁P unta ▁O bl ig ado ▁he ▁helped ▁cut ▁the ▁chain ▁that ▁def ended ▁the ▁Par an á ▁River . ▁He ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁s loop ▁HMS ▁Com us ▁at ▁W ool wich ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 8 4 8 ▁and , ▁having ▁been ▁promoted ▁to ▁lieutenant ▁on ▁ 1 3 ▁December ▁ 1 8 4 8 , ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁p addle ▁fr ig ate ▁HMS ▁Dragon ▁in ▁the ▁Mediter rane an ▁Fle et ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 8 4 9 ▁and ▁to ▁the ▁sc rew ▁fr ig ate ▁HMS ▁Da unt less ▁at ▁Dev on port ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 8 5 0 . ▁ ▁Com mer ell ▁joined ▁the ▁fr ig ate ▁HMS ▁V ulture ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 8 5 4 ▁and ▁saw ▁action ▁in ▁the ▁Balt ic ▁Sea ▁during ▁the ▁Crime an ▁War . ▁He ▁became ▁command ing ▁officer ▁of ▁the ▁gun ▁vessel ▁HMS ▁Wes er ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 8 5 5 ; ▁however ▁the ▁ship ▁caught ▁fire ▁near ▁Constantin ople ▁and