The sitter was appointed in 1698 Commander in Chief in the Medway, and in 1704 he fought in the Capture of Gibraltar and the Battle of Malaga. In 1708 he was promoted to be Vice- Admiral of the Red, and in 1711 was appointed Commander-in- Chief in the Mediterranean.He was was one of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty and in 1720 became Governor of Greenwich Hospital. He was appointed Rear-Admiral of England in 1733.