Promoted to rear-admiral on 23 November 1841,[REF] Parker went on to be Admiral Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard, hoisting his flag in HMS Victory, in August 1842 and Commander of the Experimental Squadron in July 1845 [REF].
Parker became First Naval Lord in the First Derby ministry in February 1852 but continued in office when the Aberdeen ministry came to power in December 1852 having impressed the incoming Government with his non-political style of leadership [REF].