He joined the British Army in 1807 and fought in the 1809 Battle of Corunna early in the Peninsular War, before joining the Walcheren Expedition the same year. He subsequently joined Lord Hill's staff in the Peninsular and was present at the Siege and capture of Badajoz (1812) and the 1813-14 battles of Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, the Nive, Orthes and Toulouse serving as a Deputy Assistant Adjutant General (DAAG).