ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈoːɹ ˈeɪdʒd θˈɜːtiːn hiː wʌz ɛmplˈɔɪd baɪ ðə nˈeɪvi æz ɐ lˈɑːblɑːli bˈɔɪ, mˈiːnɪŋ pˈɜːsənəl sˈɜːvənt, tə bˈeɪs hˌuː wʌzðə sˈɜːdʒən ˌɔn bˈoːɹd ˌeɪtʃˌɛmˈɛs ɹᵻlˈaɪəns fɔːɹ hɜː vˈɔɪɪdʒ tʊ ɔːstɹˈeɪliə.
In 1794 aged 13 he was employed by the navy as a loblolly boy, meaning personal servant, to Bass who was the surgeon on board HMS Reliance for her voyage to Australia.