hiː əbtˈeɪnd hɪz dˈɑːktɚɹˌeɪt ˌɛmdˈiː ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd tˈɛn, ðˈɛn ˈæktᵻd æz sˈɜːdʒən ˌɔn bˈoːɹd ɐ mˈænʌvwˈɔːɹ kəmˈændᵻd baɪ ˈædmɜːɹəl sˌɜː tʃˈɑːɹlz nˈeɪpiɚ.
He obtained his doctorate (MD) in 1810, then acted as surgeon on board a man-of-war commanded by Admiral Sir Charles Napier.