She initially sailed between London and Minorca and then between 1804 and 1805 she served as an armed defense ship for the Royal Navy.

Following the resumption of war with France in early 1803, concern developed in Britain about Napoleon's planned invasion of the United Kingdom.

The British East India Company in November voted to underwrite 10,000 tons (bm) of armed transports to protect Great Britain's coasts.

The vessels were existing, but not EIC, merchantmen that would receive an upgrade in armament and in some cases a naval officer as captain.

[1] On 28 December at Deal a boat from Anacreon capsized will coming to shore; two men drowned and a third died later.

[6] The 1806 volume of the Register of Shipping showed Anacreon's master as W. Young, her owner as Davison, and her trade as London transport.