He entered the navy as a midshipman, 19 October, 1841, and served in the West Indies, where he participated in an engagement with pirates on the isle of Pines off the south coast of Cuba, and captured a slaver with 500 slaves on board. He cruised in the ship-of-the-line "Columbus" around the world, 1845-'8, and at Yeddo, Japan, succeeded in forcibly delivering a letter to the Japanese government. He became a passed midshipman, 10 August, 1847, was commissioned a master, 14 September, 1855, and a lieutenant the next day, while on a cruise in the steamer "Massachusetts." of the Pacific station. In this cruise he participated in engagements with Indians in Puget sound. He commanded the steamer "Westernport" in the Paraguay expedition of 1859, and when the civil war began was serving in the steamer "Susquehanna" in the Mediterranean, in which he returned, 6 June, 1861, and participated in the capture of the forts at Hatteras inlet, 28 August, 1861, and of Port Royal, South Carolina, 7 November, 1861. He was executive in the steamer " Powhatan" in chase of the Confederate privateer "Sumter " to Brazil and Gibraltar in 1861-'2, commanded the steamer "Pembina," of the Western Gulf squadron, a short time in 1863, and was promoted to lieutenant-commander, 16 July, 1862, and to commander, 25 July, 1866, commanded the receiving-ship at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1866-'7, and steamer "Mahaska," North Atlantic squadron, 1868-'9, served at the naval observatory in Washington, 1869, and navy-yard, Portsouth, 1869-'72. He was chief Of staff on the flag-ship "Lancaster," of the Brazil squadron, in 1873, was commissioned a captain, 8 November, 1873, commanded the steamer "Tennessee," of the Asiatic squadron, in 1876-'8, and served at the navy-yard, Portsmouth, in 1879-'81. He was promoted to commodore, 19 June, 1882, and commanded the naval station at New London in 1882-'5.