She was designed by John Williams and built by Adam Hayes in Deptford Dockyard, being launched on 21 March 1776.

On 3 January she captured the Dutch schooner St. Ann carrying a cargo from Virginia to Curacao.

On 28 April 1779 the American cutter Revenge, captained by Gustavus Conyngham, was captured and the crew were held aboard the Galatea.

By his own report Conyngham was kept in irons until he reached prison, and was given no more than a “cold plank as my bed, a stone for a pillow”.

Additionally, he was not fed properly, causing him to lose fifty pounds while imprisoned on the ship en route to his English prison.