1798 - shipwrecked on L'Aigle frigate near Tunis. 1806 - promoted to Lieutentant. 1812 - promoted to Commander. 1817 - submitted a new form of ship propulsion to the Admiralty. 1819 - took out a patent on a new type of capstan. 1823 - made Post Captain. 1825 - invented a method of suspending a ships compass whereby it would not be affected by the firing of then ships guns. 1829 - elected to Royal Society.