Born the only son of Captain Sir Andrew Hamond and Anne Hamond (née Graeme), Hamond joined the Royal Navy in September 1785. He was recorded, as a captain's servant, on the books of the third-rate HMS "Irresistible", his father's flagship in his role as Commander-in-Chief, The Nore and, having been promoted to midshipman in 1790, actually served in the third-rate HMS "Vanguard", the third-rate HMS "Bedford" and then the second-rate HMS "Duke". In January 1793 he transferred to the fifth-rate HMS "Phaeton" and assisted in the capture of "Le Général Dumourier" and her prize "St. Iago" in an action during the French Revolutionary Wars and received his portion of a large amount of prize money. He then joined the first-rate HMS "Queen Charlotte", flagship of Earl Howe in his role as Commander-in-Chief, Channel Squadron, and saw action at the Glorious First of June in June 1794. He served in the fifth-rate HMS "Aquilon" and the third-rate HMS "Zealous" before transferring to the first-rate HMS "Britannia", flagship of Sir William Hotham in his role as Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, in June 1795 and seeing action at the Battle of Toulon in July 1795.