promoted to post captain on 25 june 1756, innes was given command of the sixth-rate hms "mermaid" in 1756. he then took command of the fourth-rate hms "enterprise" in 1758 and of the third-rate hms "hampton court" in 1762 and took part in the battle of havana in summer of that year during the anglo-spanish war. after that he was then given command of the second-rate hms "queen" in 1778. he went on to be commander-in-chief of the jamaica station with his flag in the 50-gun in 1786 but died in office.