In 1808, Reynolds moved to but less than a year later was given his first command, the hulk . In February 1811 he became a commander and took over the sloop in which he participated in the attack on Java and was promoted to post captain as a reward, taking over HMS "Sir Francis Drake". The Admiralty confirmed his promotion in 1812, in recognition of the services of his father, who had died in the wreck of on Christmas Eve 1811. He returned to Britain in August 1812 in command of and remained in her for a year before entering semi-retirement due to ill-health. Following the end of the war in 1815, Reynolds was offered continued service as a frigate captain in the reduced Navy, but was forced to turn the post down due to a protracted bout of ill-health.