Prince was launched at Bristol in 1785 as Alexander and then made two complete voyages as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people.

1st voyage transporting enslaved people (1785–1786): Captain John McTaggart sailed from Bristol on 28 April 1785.

[4] 2nd voyage transporting enslaved people (1786–1787): Captain William Engledue sailed from Bristol on 4 August 1786.

[6] Prince first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1787, with her entry showing the name change from Alexander.

[7] 3rd voyage transporting enslaved people (1787–1788): Captain James Clurg sailed from Bristol on 28 July 1787.

On her return, her owners advertised her for sale, describing her as being of 270 tons burthen, sheathed with copper, and built for the enslaving trade.

[9] 4th voyage transporting enslaved people (1790–1791): Captain Micheal Hainsley (or Hansby, or Hansley, or Hensley) sailed from Bristol on 27 April 1790 to acquire captives at Bonny.

She left Port Royal on 4 January 1791 and arrived back at Bristol on 10 February.

[10] 5th voyage transporting enslaved people (1791–1792): Captain Samuel Roscow (or Roscoe), sailed from Bristol on 29 July 1791.

[14] 6th voyage transporting enslaved people (1792–1794): Captain James Gordon, or possibly Jones, sailed from Bristol on 2 November 1792.

Prince acquired captives at Bonny and delivered 285 to Kingston, Jamaica, on 19 August 1793.

She discharged one man in Dover Roads on her way home and arrived at London with 12 crew members.

While Prince was returning from her sixth enslaving voyage war with France had broken out.

[1] On 4 November 1794, Prince, Bibby, master, was on her way from London to Africa when a gale pushed her aground in the Thames near Limehouse.

[17] 7th voyage transporting enslaved people (1795–1796): Captain Robert Bibby sailed from London on 17 February 1795.

[19] Prince started trading in Africa on 12 July, first at Cape Coast Castle and then at Anomabu.

[20][c] 8th voyage transporting enslaved people (1798): Captain John Kendall acquired a letter of marque on 23 November 1797.

[22] In 1798, 160 vessels sailed from English ports, bound for Africa to acquire and transport enslaved people.

[22] 9th voyage transporting enslaved people (1799–1800): Captain Thomas Smith acquired a letter of marque on 27 March 1799.

[23] On 13 March 1800, Prince sprang a leak in the Atlantic Ocean while returning to Liverpool from Jamaica.

She had 8 feet (2.4 m) of water in her hold when Manilla, Glover, master, from Savannah, rescued the crew.