Curacoa was 952 87⁄94 tons (bm), armed with a main battery of twenty-six 18 pounders (8.2 kilograms) and carried a complement of 264 men when fully manned.

First commissioned by Captain John Tower, who commanded her through her entire service, Curacoa spent two years on duty around the Channel Islands before being posted to the Mediterranean in 1811, first off the east coast of Italy and then in the Balearic Sea.

[1] Although classed as a 36-gun fifth rate, Curacoa was armed with a main battery of twenty-six 18 pounders (8.2 kilograms) on her gun deck, two 9 pdr (4.1 kg) on the quarterdeck and two on the forecastle.

With HMS Leviathan, Imperieuse and Eclair, she formed a squadron under the command of Captain Patrick Campbell that took part in a boat action against a French convoy at Laigueglia.

Curacoa, HMS Rainbow and Papillon were patrolling the Balearic Sea east of Barcelona city, on the night of 26 January, when a division of French soldiers was seen on the shoreline.

Codrington despatched Curacoa and HMS Merope to the town to discuss with the Governor, Juan de O'Donojú y O'Ryan, how best to mount a defence.

[14] On hearing that another division of French troops was on its way to Arenys from the north-east, Codrington sent Curacoa and Papillon with food and 11,500 rounds of ammunition for the Spanish irregular forces in the mountains behind the town.

Late on 1 February, the French force reached Canet de Mar where it was seen and attacked by boats from Curacoa and Papillon; lack of wind preventing the ships from getting close enough.

[15] Curacoa and the 36-gun frigate, HMS Aigle, used boats to land marines and seamen near the harbour of Campo del Porto, Elba, on 20 June 1813.

[18] When a joint British and Sicilian army under Lord William Bentinck occupied the city of Genoa on 19 April, Curacoa was one of the ships sent to provide naval support.

[1] After returning home in 1834, Curacoa was refitted at Chatham Dockyard between February and July 1839, before being sent to South America to assist with the suppression of the slave trade.