Command
Phillimore remained in the Baltic, serving briefly aboard the London again, before moving aboard the 80-gun HMS Spartiate and serving with Murray off Cadiz. With the Peace of Amiens Phillimore was appointed as first lieutenant of the brig-sloop HMS Gannet, being promoted to commander on 10 May 1804. He received his first command, that of the 20-gun HMS Cormorant, in October 1805. He commanded the Cormorant in the North Sea until September 1806, when he was moved to take command of the 18-gun HMS Belette. He commanded her in the English Channel and the Downs, taking part in Commodore Edward Owen's attack on Bolougne. The Belette was occupied in early 1807 with conveying supplies to the besieged town of Kolberg, after which she was attached to Admiral James Gambier's fleet which returned to the Baltic to attack Copenhagen again in 1807. Phillimore distinguished himself during the battle, particularly in an engagement at the end of August, when the Belette became becalmed off the Danish coast. She was attacked by 16 Danish gunboats, of which Phillimore managed to sink three before other British ships arrived and towed him clear. Gambier rewarded his courage by giving him the honour of carrying his despatches to the Admiralty, as a result of which he received a promotion to post captain on 13 October 1807.
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