HMS America was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built for service during the Seven Years' War against France and Spain.

Commissioned in 1757, America was assigned to the British fleets blockading French ports in the Atlantic and Mediterranean and played an active role in the Battle of Lagos in 1759.

With the assistance of a prize crew from America, the recaptured vessel was sailed to Plymouth for return to her original owners.

America remained at her station, and on 18 December captured a French merchantman, Neptune, bearing a load of fish.

In the morning of 19 December the ship was in company with HMS Brilliant when they came within range of Diamond a 14-gun French snow carrying a cargo of Quebecois furs.