Blonde started her career in June 1803 under François Aregnaudeau, a promising privateer captain noted for capturing several valuable ships off Dartmouth on Heureux Spéculateur.

[2][3][4] Blonde had a successful cruise, notably capturing the former Royal Navy brig Flirt, by then commissioned as a whaling ship and returning to London from the South Seas Fisheries.

The ensuing engagement lasted an hour and a half before Young Nicholas struck after she had suffered four men killed.

Culland's Grove was on her return leg from India and carried a valuable cargo amounting to 2.5 million francs in insurance money.

On 24 February 1804, Blonde departed from Santander, Spain, and in the following days captured the ships Diana, Eclipse, Sally and Rebecca, Rollindson, and Zephir.