Britain's trade provided a lucrative target for French privateers so the Admiralty hired a number of merchant vessels, armed them, and then used them for convoy escort duties.

[7] The French privateer Jason had captured London Packet in the North Sea off Buchan Ness, Aberdeenshire, on 11 September 1797.

[8][a][b] On 24 September 1799 Prince William was part of a small squadron of shallow-draft vessels that Admiral Mitchell, in Babet, took to the Enkhaufen road to meet with supporters of the House of Orange at Medemblik.

[13] An amateur artist, Captain Richbell drew a picture, A view of Scarborough with His Majesty's armed ship Prince William, anchoring in a fresh gale that in 1803 he exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts.

[3] A report from Hull dated 24 September 1804 stated that Captain John Waller of the Sea Fencibles had been appointed to command Prince William.

[17] Commander John Waller commissioned HMS Serpent in January 1805, and so must have left Prince William within months of his appointment to her.

[24] Prince William, together with the 74-gun Hero, the ship-sloop Egeria, and the brig-sloop Grasshopper left Göteborg on 18 December 1811 as escorts to a convoy of 15 transports and a fleet of merchantmen, some 120 sail or more.

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