HMS York was a 64-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 24 March 1796.

She had originally been laid down at Barnard's Deptford yard as an East Indiaman named Royal Admiral.

[a] In June–July 1799, York captured Santa Dorval, a Spanish packet boat, of four guns, 22 men, and 86 tons (bm).

She was sailing from Vera Cruz to Havanna, and under the command of Lieutenant Don Joseph Bonefacio of the Spanish navy.

[7] In 1801 York sailed back to Britain as escort to a convoy of 155 merchant vessels, all of which reached their destination safely.

On the night of 15 August the boats of the Third Division, under Captain Isaac Cotgrave, assembled on York's deck.