[2] Her first major service occurred in 1795 when she joined Admiral Hugh Cloberry Christian's expedition to the West Indies, with troops under Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby.

[5][6][7] Madras returned to England, arriving on 23 September 1800 having escorted 16 East Indiamen from Saint Helena, which they had left on 22 July.

[9] Because Madras served in the navy's Egyptian campaign between 8 March and 2 September 1801, her officers and crew qualified for the clasp "Egypt" to the Naval General Service Medal, which the Admiralty authorised in 1850 to all surviving claimants.

[a] Charles Marsh Schomberg received promotion to post captain on 6 August 1803 and took command of Madras, then serving as a guard ship at Malta.

In February 1807, Madras served as a storeship in Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth's Dardanelles Operation.