In the night of 30 December 1794, Nestor was dismasted due to the poor quality of her masts, and had to return to Brest for repairs.

In December 1796 Nestor took part in the Expédition d'Irlande as flagship of Linois' squadron of three ships of the line and four frigates.

After reaching Bantry Bay but deciding not to land troops on the advice of embarked French Army generals, the squadron headed back to Brest, taking three prizes on the way and sailing through the British blockade by night.

In April 1809, the French Atlantic Fleet was blockaded by the Royal Navy in Basque Roads at the mouth of the Charente on the Biscay coast of France.

[3] Although the leader of the British attack, Lord Thomas Cochrane, disapproved of the decision, the commanding officer of the third rate ship of the line HMS Valiant, Captain John Bligh, deemed Aquilon beyond repair and set her afire during the night of 12–13 April 1809.