 He commanded her off Corsica, helping his old commander Nelson in the reduction of the French strongholds on the island.Cunningham distinguished himself to the extent that Lord Hood entrusted him with the public despatches announcing the capture of the island, adding Cunningham was given command of , a 38-gun frigate he was to command for the next six years.He was at anchor with the fleet at the Nore when the Spithead and Nore mutinies broke out in 1797.