Phoenix was launched in 1759 under Captain Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany[3] Phoenix saw service during the American War of Independence under Captain Hyde Parker, Jr.[2] The ship was assigned to New York and by 5 June 1776 was laying off Sandy Hook, New Jersey with a small flotilla of ships.

[4] On 8 July 1776, Parker was ordered to assume command of HMS Rose and move upriver from New York City.

[1] During that attack, Phoenix and the other ships easily passed rebel defences and bombarded urban New York for two hours.

[5] This action largely confirmed Continental fears that the Royal Navy could act with relative impunity when attacking deep-water ports.

[5] Phoenix continued to harass patriot positions along the Hudson River till 16 August when she withdrew back to the waters off of Staten Island.

[18] The loss was memorably recorded by Lieutenant Archer in a letter of 6 November 1780: If I were to write forever, I could not give you an idea of it; the sea of fire, running as it were the Alps or Peaks of Teneriffe; the wind roaring louder than thunder, the whole made more terrible, if possible, by a very uncommon kind of blue lightning; the poor ship very much pressed, yet doing what she could, shaking her sides and groaning at every stroke.

[19] Over the course of three days, the crew was able to land provisions and stores on the shore of Cuba, a hostile territory then a possession of Spain.