HMS Cumberland was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 29 March 1774 at Deptford Dockyard.

On 11 May 1801 she, in company with HMS Carnatic and HMS Sans Pareil, made contact with USS Ganges in the West Indies, Lat 22.01 N.[3] Cumberland took an incidental part in the action of 28 June 1803, during the Blockade of Saint-Domingue.

Two days later, Cumberland and her squadron were between Jean-Rabel and St. Nichola Mole in the West Indies, having just parted with a convoy when they spotted a sail of what appeared to be a large French warship.

She proved to be the frigate Créole, of 44 guns, primarily 18-pounders, under the command of Citizen Le Ballard.

She had been sailing from Cape François to Port au Prince with General Morgan (the second in command of San Domingo), his staff, and 530 soldiers on board, in addition to her crew of 150 men.