HMS Prospero was the mercantile Albion, launched at South Shields in 1800.

The British Royal Navy purchased her in 1803 and converted her to a bomb vessel.

Both show an Albion, of 412 tons (bm), launched at Shields in 1800.

Prospero underwent fitting out at Deptford Dockyard between 5 November 1803 and 24 February 1804.

[2] Prospero, Hecla, and Meteor came into Portsmouth on 28 December 1803 to be fitted as bomb vessels, which work was to be done expeditiously.