ˈæftɚ bˌiːɪŋ mˌeɪd ɐ kˈæptɪn ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi θɹˈiː, hiː bɹˈɔːt bᵻfˌoːɹ ðɪ ˈædmɚɹəlɾi hɪz dɪzˈaɪn fɔːɹ ʃˈɪps wɪð ɐ slˈaɪdɪŋ kˈiːl wˌɪtʃ ɐlˈaʊd nˌævɪɡˈeɪʃən ʌv ʃˈæloʊ wˈɔːɾɚz.
After being made a captain in 1783, he brought before the Admiralty his design for ships with a sliding keel which allowed navigation of shallow waters.