Nevell was descended from a junior branch of the Nevilles of Abergavenny, being the great grandson of Henry Nevill, 6th Baron Bergavenny. He served as a volunteer during the early part of the Third Anglo-Dutch War, and promoted to Lieutenant aboard the captured French vessel in 1673. He was appointed to the on 29 June 1675, part of the Mediterranean squadron commanded by Sir John Narborough. The "Sapphire"&apos;s captain, Thomas Harman, was killed in battle with an Algerine corsair on 9 September 1677 and replaced by Cloudesley Shovell, who became Nevell's lifelong friend. In November 1679 he led eighteen sailors in battle against a Moorish attack on Tangier.