He was recalled at the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793 and give command of first the frigate and then the flagship of Rear-Admiral Samuel Goodall, , in which he sailed for the Mediterranean. "Princess Royal" was heavily engaged at the Siege of Toulon later in the year, and following the withdrawal Purvis assisted the British forces during the invasion of Corsica, seeing action at the Siege of Bastia and the Siege of Calvi. The following year he was with the fleet which fought at the Battle of Genoa and Battle of the Hyères Islands and inflicted minor defeats on the French Mediterranean Fleet during the blockade of Toulon.