Radford was accepted March 1, 1825 into the United States Navy as a midshipman.
 He reported 1 August 1825 to Captain Charles Morris for duty aboard Brandywine at Washington Navy Yard.
 While the ship normally carried only 8 to 10 midshipmen, President Adams appointed a total of 24, at least one from each state, to commemorate the return of Lafayette to France.
 Radford represented the state of Missouri.

Lafayette was delivered to Le Havre on October 9, 1825.
From there Brandywine was attached to the Mediterranean Squadron under Commodore John Rodgers.
 Upon the departure of Brandywine February 25, 1826, Radford transferred to Constitution to remain in the Mediterranean monitoring the Greek War of Independence and coup against the Janissaries.
 Rodgers was succeeded by Commodore William Crane March 30, 1827.
Constitution, in need of major repairs, was recalled to Boston Navy Yard arriving on July 4, 1828.

Radford returned to Saint Louis and received orders August 10, 1829, to join Erie at Norfolk Naval Shipyard for deployment to the West Indies Squadron commanded by Commodore Charles Ridgely.
Radford was promoted to passed midshipman June 4, 1831 and reported for duty in Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.
 In September 1831, he requested a six-month leave and was with his mother Harriet when she died December 25, 1831, Christmas Day.
 He was then entered into a furlough due to the general stagnation of naval affairs.

Radford was assigned to the receiving ship Sea Gull at Philadelphia in February 1834.
 Then in June 1834 he returned to the Mediterranean Squadron aboard John Adams as the acting Master.
 He suffered an attack of cholera in November 1834 and was sent ashore to recover in the south of France.
Still afflicted in January 1836, he was in New Orleans, Louisiana and, during October 1836, was recuperating at the home of his uncle William Radford II in Lynchburg, Virginia.

On February 9, 1837, Radford was appointed lieutenant.
 In September he rejoined the West Indies Squadron, reporting to Commodore Alexander Dallas and fighting in the second Seminole War.
 The maiden voyage of Preble took Radford to Labrador in June 1840.
In November, he returned for a third tour with the Mediterranean Squadron, Commodore Isaac Hull in charge.
 On March 6, 1841, due to the Oregon Question, Radford was summoned to New York via Brandywine.

Radford traveled May 1841 to Norfolk for duty on Pennsylvania.
On December 20, 1841, he received Ontario as his first command and delivered her from New York to the Rendezvous at New Orleans where she was employed as a receiving ship.
 Relieved of recruitment detail in August 1843, he was ordered on board the inaugural cruise of Savannah where she became the flagship of the Pacific Squadron for Commodore Alexander Dallas.
Radford was accepted March 1, 1825 into the United States Navy as a midshipman.  He reported 1 August 1825 to Captain Charles Morris for duty aboard Brandywine at Washington Navy Yard.  While the ship normally carried only 8 to 10 midshipmen, President Adams appointed a total of 24, at least one from each state, to commemorate the return of Lafayette to France.  Radford represented the state of Missouri.
Lafayette was delivered to Le Havre on October 9, 1825. From there Brandywine was attached to the Mediterranean Squadron under Commodore John Rodgers.  Upon the departure of Brandywine February 25, 1826, Radford transferred to Constitution to remain in the Mediterranean monitoring the Greek War of Independence and coup against the Janissaries.  Rodgers was succeeded by Commodore William Crane March 30, 1827. Constitution, in need of major repairs, was recalled to Boston Navy Yard arriving on July 4, 1828.
Radford returned to Saint Louis and received orders August 10, 1829, to join Erie at Norfolk Naval Shipyard for deployment to the West Indies Squadron commanded by Commodore Charles Ridgely. Radford was promoted to passed midshipman June 4, 1831 and reported for duty in Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.  In September 1831, he requested a six-month leave and was with his mother Harriet when she died December 25, 1831, Christmas Day.  He was then entered into a furlough due to the general stagnation of naval affairs.
Radford was assigned to the receiving ship Sea Gull at Philadelphia in February 1834.  Then in June 1834 he returned to the Mediterranean Squadron aboard John Adams as the acting Master.  He suffered an attack of cholera in November 1834 and was sent ashore to recover in the south of France. Still afflicted in January 1836, he was in New Orleans, Louisiana and, during October 1836, was recuperating at the home of his uncle William Radford II in Lynchburg, Virginia.
On February 9, 1837, Radford was appointed lieutenant.  In September he rejoined the West Indies Squadron, reporting to Commodore Alexander Dallas and fighting in the second Seminole War.  The maiden voyage of Preble took Radford to Labrador in June 1840. In November, he returned for a third tour with the Mediterranean Squadron, Commodore Isaac Hull in charge.  On March 6, 1841, due to the Oregon Question, Radford was summoned to New York via Brandywine.
Radford traveled May 1841 to Norfolk for duty on Pennsylvania. On December 20, 1841, he received Ontario as his first command and delivered her from New York to the Rendezvous at New Orleans where she was employed as a receiving ship.  Relieved of recruitment detail in August 1843, he was ordered on board the inaugural cruise of Savannah where she became the flagship of the Pacific Squadron for Commodore Alexander Dallas.
William Radford