Promoted to post-captain on 15 January 1747, Hervey was given command of the third-rate HMS "Princess" and later the sixth-rate HMS "Phoenix" in January 1752 and saw action in her at the Battle of Minorca in May 1756. He went on to command the fourth-rate HMS "Defiance" later that month, the third-rate HMS "Hampton Court" in May 1757 and the third-rate HMS "Monmouth" in March 1758.