Born the third son of Admiral Sir Michael Seymour, 1st Baronet,Laughton, J. K.. "Seymour, Sir Michael (1802–1887)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004 ed.). Oxford University Press. . Michael Seymour entered the Royal Navy in 1813. He was made lieutenant in 1822, commander in 1824 and was posted captain in 1826. From 1833 to 1835 he was captain of the survey ship HMS Challenger, and was wrecked in her off the coast of Chile. In 1841 he was given command of HMS Britannia and then of HMS Powerful. In 1845 he took over HMS Vindictive.
