Born the son of Admiral Sir Manley Dixon, Dixon joined the Royal Navy in 1794 and took part in the action of 15 July 1798 and the Siege of Malta during the French Revolutionary Wars before seeking action again during the Napoleonic Wars. He became commanding officer of the third-rate HMS "Vigo" in 1811, commanding officer of the third-rate HMS "Montagu" in 1812 and commanding officer of the frigate HMS "Nereus" in 1813. He went on to be commanding officer of the fifth-rate HMS "Pallas" in 1831, commanding officer the first-rate HMS "Caledonia" in 1845 and Commander-in-Chief, Queenstown in 1850 before retiring in 1855.