HMS Dunkirk was a 60-gun fourth-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Edward Allin at Woolwich Dockyard to the draught specified by the 1745 Establishment as amended in 1750, and launched on 22 July 1754.

On 5 June she spotted four French ships which were bound for Canada under the command of Admiral Dubois de la Motte.

Dunkirk came alongside the 64-gun Alcide and requested the captain meet with the vice admiral, who was then about three miles (4.8 km) away.

[2] In 1778, Dunkirk was placed on harbour service under captain John Milligan, who had previously served as second lieutenant aboard Eagle.

[3] During Milligan's captaincy, and despite her harbor service status, she was among the vessels credited with the capture on 23 December 1781 of the Dutch ship De Vrow Esther, being in company with Squirrel, Antigua, and Cambridge.