Her grounding in 1807 inspired the invention of the Manby Mortar, an important development in maritime lifesaving equipment.
Snipe and nine other similar vessels were ordered on 7 January 1801, the draught was approved three days later, and all were being built by the end of the month.
On the 18th of February 1807, HMS Snipe ran aground during a storm 50 yards (46 m) off shore at Gorleston, south of Great Yarmouth, with a total of 67 people drowned, including French prisoners of war, women and children.
[3] On 18 May 1809 the 64-gun third rate HMS Standard, under Captain Askew Paffard Hollis, the 36-gun frigate Owen Glendower, Avenger, Ranger, Rose, and Snipe captured the Danish island of Anholt.
Hollis stated that Anholt was important as a source of water to the Navy, and as a good anchorage for merchant vessels going to or coming from the Baltic.