 Hely-Hutchinson was second-in-command of the 1801 expedition to Egypt, under Abercromby.Following Abercromby's death in March after being wounded at the Battle of Alexandria, Hely-Hutchinson took command of the force.From then he was able to besiege the French firstly at Cairo which capitulated in June and then besieged and took Alexandria culminating in the capitulation of over 22,000 French soldiers.