The French Navy ordered her on 8 March 1793 as Fidélité, but she was renamed Résistance while still on the stocks.

In 1797 she served as a troop ship, ferrying the Légion Noire to Cardigan Bay during the Battle of Fishguard.

The Royal Navy took Résistance into service as the first HMS Fisgard, naming her after the town of Fishguard because of her role in the battle.

On 3 April 1800, Fisgard recaptured the United States letter of marque Minerva, which the French privateer Minerve had captured on 31 March.

[6] On 15 May 1801 Fisgard, and the hired armed cutters Hirondelle and Earl Spencer, recaptured the brig Victory from the French.

The British vessel was Three Brothers, White, master, which had been sailing from Bermuda to St Thomas's and Honduras.

[12] The Principal Officers and Commissioners of the Royal Navy offered "Fisgard, of 38 guns and 1182 tons", lying at Portsmouth, for sale on 11 August 1814.