Prisoner at Dinan Prison.

Irish by birth, he embarked for Jamaica aboard the Eliza, and was taken prisoner when the ship was captured (November 1778).

With Franklin’s assistance, he entered on board the Bonhomme Richard as secretary to John Paul Jones (March 1779). Following a dispute with Jones, he was transferred to the Vengeance (August 1779), and eventually received a share of the squadron’s prize money.