She served as the flagship of Edward Vernon at the capture of Puerto Bello in 1739 during the War of Jenkins' Ear under the command of Captain Thomas Watson,[3] before returning to Britain for repairs in 1741/42.

Her next active duty was in the West Indies from 1742 to 1744 during which she took part in operations at La Guayra and Porto Cabello in 1743 (where she lost two captains in succession) before being stationed in the Mediterranean from 1744 to 1748.

Master Shipwright Richard Stacey constructed her at Deptford Dockyard though she was 4 inches broader in the beam and 18 tons burthen bigger than the 1719 Establishment allowed.

Burford's first commanding officer was Captain Charles Stewart, who commissioned her in 1726 as the flagship of Vice Admiral Edward Hopson for service in the Straits of Gibraltar during the winter of 1726 and 1727.

In June 1739, as war with Spain was again looming, she was fitted as the flagship of Vice Admiral Edward Vernon for the Caribbean under Commander (promoted captain in October 1739) Thomas Watson.