In 1872, he returned to England to the gunnery school "Excellent", this time as head of torpedo and mine training, during which time he split the Torpedo Branch off from "Excellent", forming a separate establishment for it called . His duties included lecturing, and negotiating the purchase of the navy's first Whitehead torpedo. In order to promote the school, he invited politicians and journalists to attend lectures and organised demonstrations. This produced mixed reactions amongst some officers, who did not approve of his showmanship. He was promoted to captain on 30 October 1874, aged thirty-three, in time to be "Vernon"s first commander. "Vernon" consisted of the hulk of , William Symonds' 1832 50-gun sailing frigate, and the hulk of the 26-gun steam frigate provided accommodation. , a torpedo boat of 245 tons, was "Vernon's" experimental tender for the conduct of torpedo trials. They were moored in Portsmouth harbour. In 1876 he served on the Admiralty torpedo committee.