Protecteur was a Souverain-class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, the only to have borne the name.

In 1762, under Captain de L'Ilsle Calian, Protecteur was part of Bompart's squadron.

[1] In 1788, Under Captain Dapchon, Protecteur was appointed to Admiral d'Estaing's squadron and took part in the American Revolutionary War.

[3] In 1782, Protecteur was part of the escort of a 20-sail convoy, along with the ship Pégase and the frigates Indiscrète and Andromaque.

The English HMS Foudroyant and HMS Queen intercepted, yielding the Third Battle of Ushant in which they captured Pégase and four transports, but where the rest of the French convoy escaped.