Achilles first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1786, having undergone repairs, with M[ark] Harvey, master, and trade Liverpool—St Petersburg, changing to Liverpool—New York.

[1] Lloyd's List reported on 29 April 1794 that Achilles, Pile, master, had run aground while leaving Liverpool for Quebec and had had to be unloaded to effect repairs.

[5] In late 1799 the British Government hired Achilles to transport a company of the Dutch Emigrant Artillery Corps from England to Jamaica.

Achilles cleared for action and at 8 am saw that the French vessel had altered her course and that people aboard her were throwing things overboard.

After about three-quarters of an hour Achilles was in a position for the Hanoverian soldiers hidden below deck to come out and board the French vessel.

[11] The French vessel proved to be the privateer corvette Entreprenante of four 12–pounder and fourteen 6-pounder guns, and 195 men under the command of Captain Jos.

[11] On 31 January 1800, Lloyd's List reported that Achilles, Hogg, master, had captured the French letter of marque corvette Intreprenant.

[4] Achilles, late Hogg, master, had sailed from Honduras and Charleston for London when on 19 April 1801 she encountered a French privateer of 20 guns and 200 men.