She made two voyages for the British East India Company (EIC) before a French privateer captured her in 1802 south of the Bay of Bengal.

[11] Then on 7 June the hired armed lugger Valiant escorted Highland Chief and a convoy to the River Thames.

[16] Then on 26 December Lloyd's List reported that Porcher, Tay, and Highland Chief had been taken into Île de France and condemned there as prizes of war.

[17] On 5 February 1802 Highland Chief encountered the French privateer Subtilite (or Subtile), of five guns and 116 men under the command of Captain Pineau at 2°12′S 93°36′E / 2.200°S 93.600°E / -2.200; 93.600.

As the vessel got close, the British realized that it was armed, much more heavily crewed than it had initially appeared to be, and was hostile.

At the outset, Highland Chief's Portuguese and lascar crewmen fled below, leaving only 21 English crew to continue the fight.

[19] Highland Chief had already struck when one of the Frenchmen in the rigging fired a Blunderbuss at Captain Greenway, who was standing on the poop deck, killing him.

[19] Next day Subtile captured Roebuck, firing on her despite the fact that she was flying American colours and hence was a neutral vessel.

[19] In June 1802, Earl Cornwallis sailed to Île de France having on board a number of French prisoners, who had been detained in Bengal.