Carrère was one of two 38-gun frigates that were building on the stocks of the Arsenal of Venice in May 1797, when Napoleon took the city during the Campaign of Italy.

[1] Pierre-Alexandre Forfait ordered the two frigates completed, which they were in August 1797 under the names Carrère and Muiron.

The French named Carrère after an esteemed artillery colonel who had fallen at Unzmarkt fighting the Austrians.

[2] The captain of the Carrère was Commodore Pierre Dumanoir le Pelley, and with him travelled generals Lannes, Murat, and Marmont.

The British Pomone of 48 guns, in company with Phoenix and Pearl, captured Carrère near Elba on 3 August 1801 after a short fight.