Promoted to lieutenant on 17 March 1716, he was assigned to the fourth-rate in service as part of a Baltic Sea fleet commanded by Admiral John Norris. Anson transferred to the aging fourth-rate in March 1718, and saw active service against Spain at the Battle of Cape Passaro in August 1718 during the War of the Quadruple Alliance. He then transferred to the second-rate , flagship of Admiral George Byng, in October 1719.