Complex sentence: On 14 February 1772, he was appointed commodore and commander-in-chief on the Newfoundland station, which office he held for three years, and on 31 March 1775 he was promoted to be rear-admiral of the white.
Split into simpler sentences: On 14 February 1772, he was appointed commodore and commander-in-chief on the Newfoundland station, which office he held for three years. On 31 March 1775 he was promoted to be rear-admiral of the white.