Kingston first appeared in Lloyd's Register in 1780 with J. Fowler, master, J. Collard, owner, and trade Bristol–Jamaica.

1st whaling voyage (1798-1799): Captain Charles Clark sailed from England on 11 March 1798, bound for the Pacific Ocean.

At Cabo Blanco, Peru,[9] she and another whaler, Cornwall, assisted by Sally, captured Nostra Senora de Bethlehem, which had been sailing from Callao to Guayaquil.

[3] 2nd whaling voyage (1800-1801): Captain Thomas Dennis acquired a letter of marque on 15 January 1800.

They were then to examine King George Sound, proceed to Shark Bay and the north-west coast, and return via Madagascar and southern Africa.

The two vessels did some whaling off the African coast and then turned east, cruising off Western Australia from 9 August to 22 December.

There, at the entrance to Oyster Harbour, Western Australia (34°59′37.9″S 117°56′39.8″E / 34.993861°S 117.944389°E / -34.993861; 117.944389, Dixson made a small garden and left a copper plate engraved "Aug. 27 1800.

Late in 1801 Matthew Flinders found the plate on his way along the southern coast of Australia to Port Jackson.

[8] In 1803 Danniel Bennett sold Kingston to Alexander and John Gibbon, and Matthew Swain.

[8] 5th whaling voyage (1804–1806): Captain Matthew Swain sailed on 27 September 1804, bound for the Isle of Desolation.

[8] The Register of Shipping for 1818 showed Kingston's master changing from J. Topplen to Young, and her trade from London−Southern Fishery to London−Quebec.