Lord Nelson passed his examination on 8th of April 1777, the next day, April 9th, Nelson received his commission as second lieutenant of the HMS Lowestoffe, frigate, 32 guns, Captain William Locker.  Lowestoffe sailed from Spithead for the Jamaica station on 16th May, 1777, with HMS Grasshopper in company, a sloop of war 14 guns, Captain Truscott, to reinforce the squadron under Vice Admiral Clarke Gayton.

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