In the Second Dutch War (1665–1667), while mate of a ship in the Baltic trade, he was pressed into service with the Royal Navy and rose to be Admiral of William III's Blue Fleet (8 February 1693). He was knighted by William III, apparently informally, about May 1694 before he joined Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford's grand fleet, but was officially dubbed a Knight Bachelor at Kensington, London, on 6 December 1698.