Philip Westphal was born in 1782, the son of George Westphal and younger brother of Admiral George Augustus Westphal. He entered the North American station of the Royal Navy in 1794. Two years later he served in the Home Squadron on and before being transferred to in 1797. Westphal served in North America on the Asia for three years, until 1800. He served under Horatio Nelson on and participated in the Battle of Copenhagen in April 1801. On 5 April Westphal was promoted to lieutenant of and in May of the following year he switched to , traveling from Toulon to the West Indies.
