With the out break of war with France in early 1793, the Royal Navy needed smaller vessels to protect convoys from privateers.

The Navy employed Mentor as a hired armed vessel, releasing her from her contract at the end of 1801 after the signing of the Treaty of Amiens.

[4] On 2 March 1798, the frigate HMS Charon captured the French privateer lugger Alexandrine, of Brest, near Bury Head.

[5] Mentor and the hired armed luggers Attack and Alarm were in company and shared in the prize money.

[8] On 19 February 1826 Mentor, of Shields, struck the Cork Sand, in the North Sea off the coast of Essex and was abandoned.