Between March 1793 and April 1796 he served as master's mate and then midshipman, firstly in the fire-ship "Conflagration" and then the frigate (28), both commanded by Captain Thomas Francis Fremantle, then aboard (98) and (100), the flagships of Sir Hyde Parker, and the (100), flagship of Sir John Jervis. While attached to the "Tartar" and "St. George" he served on shore during the capture and evacuation of Toulon, and took part in the land operations connected with the capture of Saint-Florent, Bastia, and Calvi, in the island of Corsica, and fought in the battles off Genoa and the Hyères Islands in March and July 1795.