Like his father, he entered the Royal Navy; he was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant on 4 November 1790, and to Commander on 1 June 1794.
lˈaɪk hɪz fˈɑːðɚ, hiː ˈɛntɚd ðə ɹˈɔɪəl nˈeɪvi; hiː wʌz ɐpˈɔɪntᵻd tə ðə ɹˈæŋk ʌv luːtˈɛnənt ˌɔn fˈoːɹ noʊvˈɛmbɚ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti, ænd tə kəmˈændɚɹ ˌɔn wˈʌn dʒˈuːn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈoːɹ.