 Educated at Eton College, Coote joined the Royal Navy in 1833 and served on the coast of Syria in 1840.He was made commander of the sloop HMS "Volcano" in 1851 while serving in the West Africa Squadron.Promoted to captain in 1854, he commanded HMS "Victory" from 1860, HMS "Gibraltar" from 1864 and HMS "Arethusa" from 1867.