I whanau mai ia i Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ka uru a Godon ki te Navy i te 1819 hei kaitiaki, a, i muri i tana mahi i te moana i nga waahi rereke o te ao, i whakatairangahia ia hei kaitiaki i te 1827, me te rangatira i te 1836. I mahi ia i roto i te, kaipuke matua o te Mediterranean Squadron a Commodore Isaac Hull mai i te 1839 ki te 1841. I whakamahia kaha a Godon i te Pakanga o Mexico-Amerika, i te whakahau i te kaipuke pahū i te whakahekenga o Veracruz
i te tau 1847.