b. October 1760, St Peter Port Guernsey, son of a Guernsey corn-chandler. m.
While he is born in relative poverty, Delancey claims noble ancestry on his mother's (Andros) side: an ancestor was bailiff of Guernsey and another Governor of New York and Virginia. On his father's side he discovers also a distant relationship to the aristocratic De Lancey family of New York.
Leaves his home in Guernsey at 14 to take a position with his great-uncle's shipping firm in Liverpool, only to find there is no position. Volunteers for the Navy to escape prison.
Purser's and then captain's clerk, Romney, February 1776.
Midshipman, Romney, May 1776.
Aide-de-camp to Commodore Harvey, New York, 1776.
Midshipman, Falcon, 1778; Avenger, 1780.
4th mate, Vernon, November 1781.
Master's mate, Brilliant, May 1782; acting lieutenant, July 1782.
Passed for lieutenant, Gibraltar, 1782.