She was originally built as a brig named Gaivota do Mar before joining the Brazilian cause during the war of independence, being renamed and converted to a corvette.

[3] She took part in the Portuguese campaigns in the Banda Oriental, escorting the convoy carrying the Royal Volunteers Division from Rio de Janeiro to Montevideo in June 1812 during the first invasion.

Gaivota do Mar's captain, João Batista Lourenço da Silva, was commended by the commander of the Luso-Brazilian army Carlos Frederico Lecor for his success in the naval action.

The Liberal herself would have a mutiny attempt foiled on board on 17 September 1822, with 12 sailors being taken prisoner and escorted to the corvette Maria da Glória for imprisonment.

After the inconclusive battle, she returned to Rio de Janeiro on 17 May and left towards Montevideo on 12 August, where the Brazilian commander, Pedro Antônio Nunes, made her his flagship.