HMS Avenger was the collier Thames, launched in 1803, that the Royal Navy purchased in 1804 and renamed.

Commander Thomas white commissioned Avenger in June 1804 for the North Sea.

[2] On 17 December 1806 Avenger destroyed the French privateer cutter Hazard.

[1] On 18 May 1809 the 64-gun third rate HMS Standard, under Captain Askew Paffard Hollis, the 36-gun frigate Owen Glendower, the three sloops Avenger, Ranger, and Rose, and the gunvessel Snipe captured Anholt.

Hollis stated that Anholt was important as a source of water to the Navy, and as a good anchorage for merchant vessels going to or coming from the Baltic.

On 17 October Avenger captured Three Sisters, Christian and Margarethe, Norsamheid, Carin Catherina, and Die Keine Hoffnung.

On 12 July 1812, shortly after the outbreak of war with the United States, Avenger detained the American ships Adriatic, Pochahontas, and Triton.

Wind drove her aground in the narrows and she was unable to get off despite attempts to lighten her and use kedge anchors.