Captain James Dundas sailed from the Downs on 18 February 1787, bound for Madras and China.

Earl Fitzwilliam was at Madeira on 12 March, reached Madras on 22 June, and arrived at Whampoa Anchorage on 4 October.

[2] On 2 December Captain William Greer of Belvedere, which had arrived at Canton a few days earlier, had a seaman put into chains.

Earl Fitzwilliam was at Madeira on 5 April, and arrived at Diamond Harbour on 13 August.

Earl Fitzwilliam was at Rio de Janeiro on 7 September and reached Madras on 16 December.

As the fire consumed the ship her guns, which were loaded, started to cook-off, sending their shot everywhere.

A boat from Thetis came within an oar's length of Earl Fitzwilliam and hauled in as many crew members as it could.

A midshipman from Thetis, with two sailors, rowed back and forth between the wreck and the larger boats that were standing off, and kept up his shuttle service until all the men still on board were rescued.

In all, one officer and five other Europeans died; the loss among the lascars was unknown, but was believed to be small.