Designed based on plans by Jacques-Noël Sané, and updated by Maillot, she and her sister (Pluton) were the prototypes of a new variant of the Téméraire class designed to have a smaller draught, allowing the production of ships of the line in the shallow harbour of Antwerp.

[3] In October 1809, she resumed escort duties for a convoy to Barcelona, this time in a division under Rear-Admiral Baudin.

In the morning of 24th, the French squadron anchored close to the coast; it departed the next day at 5, and Baudin gave his captains liberty of manoeuvre to negotiate the shallow waters.

[7] Borée reached deep waters, accompanied by the frigate Pauline, and was chased by HMS Tigre and Leviathan; the running Battle of Maguelone ensued,[8] Senes attempting to moor his ship off Sète.

The aviso Provençale had witnessed the fight and her captain, Ensign Vallat, proposed to lead Borée into the harbour of Sète.