They were designed in 1756 by Britain's Surveyor of the Navy, Sir Thomas Slade, and were largely modeled on HMS Tartar, which was regarded as an exemplar among small frigates due to its speed and maneuverability.

The 1750s were a period of considerable experimentation in ship design, and Slade authorized individual builders to make "such alterations withinboard as may be judged necessary" in final construction.

Eleven of these were ordered from private shipyards and built over the relatively short period of three years; the twelfth was completed following the close of the War in a royal dockyard after its original contractor became bankrupt.

The design for these vessels was modified to square the stern, increasing stability in rough seas and allowing a marginal improvement in storage capacity.

However the fir timbers were significantly less durable: the four vessels that served without being captured averaged only nine years at sea before being broken up or sold.