Lieutenant Henry Augustus Hollingworth entered the Royal Navy in 1834 and after passing his examinations in 1840, served as a Mate aboard H.M.S. Thunderer in the operations on, and off the coast of Syria, including the bombardment of St. Jean d'Acre. Next employed in the same rank aboard H.M.S. Cornwallis, the Flagship of Sir William Parker, in the operations on, and off the coast of China, Hollingworth was present at the capture of Chapoo, Woosung and Chin-Kiang-Foo and attained the rank of Lieutenant upon his return to England in 1843.