Career
Sulivan joined the Royal Navy in 1786. He took part in the expedition to Ostend to destroy the Bruges Canal in May 1798 and was present at the bombardment of the Portuguese of Granville in September 1803. He commanded a naval brigade at the Battle of Bladensburg in August 1814 during the War of 1812.
He went on to be commanding officer of the third-rate HMS Talavera at Plymouth in March 1836 and, having been promoted to Commodore, he became Senior Officer, South East Coast of America Station in 1838.
