In 1798 Paget became post-captain of HMS Brilliant, a small frigate in which he captured le Dragon of 11 guns, and the St Jago, a Spanish privateer of 10 guns.[2] In 1800 he removed into HMS Egyptienne.[2] His next appointment was to HMS Hydra, a frigate of 38 guns, in which he proceeded to the Mediterranean where he remained about twelve months. On 6 April 1803 he commissioned HMS Endymion, a frigate of the largest class, and in the course of the ensuing summer he captured Bacchante, a French corvette of 18 guns, Adour, a store ship pierced for 20 guns, and General, a Morcau schooner privateer of 16 guns. He subsequently intercepted several richly laden Spanish merchantmen coming from South America, and he also captured Colombe, a French corvette of 10 guns off Ushant.
Towards the close of the long French war, Paget, while cruising in the Endymion on the coast of Spain, sighted a French ship-of-the-line in imminent danger, embayed among rocks upon a lee shore, bowsprit and foremast gone, and riding by a stream cable, her only remaining one. Though it was blowing a gale, Paget bore down to the assistance of his enemy, dropped his sheet anchor on the Frenchman's bow, buoyed the cable, and veered it athwart his hawse. This the disabled ship succeeded in getting in, and thus seven hundred lives were rescued from destruction. After performing this chivalrous action, Endymion, being herself in great peril, hauled to the wind, let go her bower anchor, club-hauled and stood off shore on the other tack.[3]
He was appointed to HMS Superb, another third rate belonging to the Channel Fleet, and during a cruise in the bay of Biscay he took several prizes. In 1814 he was employed on the coast of North America under the orders of Sir Alexander Cochrane by whom he was entrusted with the command of a squadron stationed off New London and took part in an attack upon Wareham, Massachusetts during the War of 1812.[2]
Sir Charles Paget died on board HMS Tartarus, whilst she was on her way from Port Royal to Bermuda.[2] His death ensued after a violent attack of yellow fever during which for three days his death was hourly expected. Of his staff of twenty, six had died including Dr Scott the surgeon. Feeling better, but weak, and strangely free from rheumatic pain on 19 January he embarked on board the Tartarus, for the purpose of going to the Bermudas. He was off those islands for three days, but being unable to reach them was obliged to go back to St Thomas's.[2]
Peget was buried in St Bartholomew's Church in Rogate in West Sussex. He had married Elizabeth Monck. She was daughter of Henry Monck of Fore, County Westmeath and his wife Lady Elizabeth Araminta Gore, daughter of Arthur Gore, 2nd Earl of Arran, and granddaughter of George Paul Monck, Member of Parliament for Coleraine.[6] She died at Fair Oak on 17 August 1843, aged 56 years.[1]
Their children included:
Charles Henry Paget R.N. (15 July 1806 – 26 May 1845).[7]
Caroline Paget (1808-11 June 1880)[7] married her cousin Capt. Algernon Henry Champagne Capell, grandson of William Capell, 4th Earl of Essex and Lady Harriet Bladen. They had two sons, and a daughter.