She spent most of her British career in the Mediterranean Sea, though towards the end of the War of 1812 she served briefly on the North American station.

She left Basse Terre 14 June, carrying sugar and coffee to France, and under the command of Lieutenant Gabriel-Étienne-Louis Le Marant Kerdaniel.

[1] Bonne Citoyenne was returning to a convoy she was escorting in company with HMS Inflexible, under Captain Brown, but on seeing what was happening, Mounsey sailed to intervene.

Emboldened, Mounsey set off in pursuit; after an 18-hour chase Bonne Citoyenne had closed the range and brought Furieuse to battle.

She nevertheless fired 129 broadsides to the enemy's 70, with Mounsey alternating between the starboard and larboard sides as circumstances permitted.

Realizing that he was running out of powder, Mounsey decided to force the issue and prepared to board the French ship.

[1] Mounsey received a gold medal and promotion to post captain,[3] back-dated to the day of the action, for his victory.

The Royal Navy commissioned the captured frigate as HMS Furieuse and appointed John Simpson to sail her to Britain.

[4] Furieuse was initially employed in escorting a convoy to the Mediterranean, after which she joined the fleet blockading Toulon under Admiral Edward Pellew.

[11] In February 1813 Mounsey supported Charles John Napier in HMS Thames in the capture of the island of Ponza.

[12] The capture of the harbour provided an anchorage and fresh water for Royal Navy ships patrolling the coast.

Although two gunboats and a shore battery of two long 24-pounder guns protected the convoy, Mounsey decided to launch a cutting out expedition.

The enemy retreated to a nearby castle and continued to pour small arms fire on the landing party.

The British sank two of the armed vessels, brought out one, as well as 13 settees carrying salt, tobacco, marble, and sundries.

[d] The end of the War of the Sixth Coalition in 1814 saw Furieuse sailing from Gibraltar to Bermuda with Captain Andrew King's squadron, escorting a fleet of transports.