Surprise was one of a batch of five ships ordered as part of a programme sparked by the diplomatic crisis of 1770 between Britain and Spain over the possession of the Falkland Islands.

[2] On 20 March 1776 Surprise and the sloop Martin sailed from Plymouth, carrying supplies and troops for the relief of Quebec, then besieged by American forces.

[3] Surprise remained in North America, based at Newfoundland, and captured the American schooner Favourite on 3 May 1777, and the brig Live Oak on 4 September 1777.

The squadron consisted of the flagship Pallas, commanded by Richard King, Surprise, Robert Linzee; Romney, George Montagu, Martin, Charles Chamberlayn, and the sloop Bonavista, Lt. Cheney H. Garrett, and carried an additional 200 Marines and artillery.

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