Hampshire was one of eight ships authorised by the Navy Board on 24 December 1695 to be newly built for service in the Nine Years' War against France.

[a] A contract for construction was signed with shipbuilder John Taylor on 14 February 1696, for the ship to be built in his yard at Nelson Dock in Cuckold's Point, South London.

[1] Hampshire's entry into active service was delayed by the Peace of Ryswick in October 1697, which ended the war with France.

She was eventually commissioned under Captain Andrew Leake for service protecting Britain's fisheries fleet in Newfoundland in 1699, and then in the Baltic Sea in 1700.

[1][3] At the conclusion of this uneventful service Hampshire was returned to England, making port at the Downs in February 1701.