HMS Seahorse was a member of the standardized 20-gun sixth rates built at the end of the 17th century.

[1] Seahorse was the fourth named vessel since it was used for a ship captured in 1626 and last mentioned in 1635.

[2] She was ordered in the second batch of eight ships to be built under contract by John Haydon of Limehouse.

Captain John Drake, RN took command on 15 January 1696 until his death on 22 November 1697 for service in the Irish Sea then on to Newfoundland in 1697.

In 1698 Captain George Walton, RN took over, joining Aylmer's squadron in the Mediterranean in November 1698.