Hi Lynne, No he was NOT commissioned. Petty Officers are non - commissioned officers and your man would have retired after 20 or 22 years service at 40 yrs of age. Exceptionally he could have served an additional five years, affectionately known in the service as a Fifth Five. Continuous service was not introduced into the Navy until 1852. A good book for anyone wishing to get the flavour of the Victiorian Navy is John Winton,s ' Huurah for the Life of a sailor' Published 1977 Mike