She first entered Lloyd's Register in 1789 as whaler in the northern whale fishery (Greenland and Davis Strait).

[6] 2nd slave trading voyage (1791–1792): Captain James Bowie sailed from Liverpool on 29 May 1791, Robust arrived at Africa on 29 August and left on 14 March 1792.

[6] 3rd slave trading voyage (1793–1794): Captain Archibald Forrest acquired a letter of marque on 9 March 1793,[5] immediately after the outbreak of War with France.

[9] On 20 November Lloyd's List reported that Robust (Forrest, late master), had captured the French vessel Patriote du Sol on the African coast.

[10][a] Robust also recaptured Little Joe, and Echo, Captain Kelly, which the French privateer Liberty, of Bordeaux, had captured.

[11] Lloyd's List reported in March 1794 that Patriote Soldat, a prize to Robust, had arrived in Dominica.

[9] Lloyd's Register for 1795 showed Robust's master changing from A. Forrest to T. Leece, her owner from J. Fisher to "Hnirson", and her trade from Liverpool–Africa to Liverpool–Southern Fishery.

[16] 1st southern whale fishery voyage (1795): Robert/Robust, T(haddeus) Luce, master, was reported to have sailed in 1795, and to have been at Rio in November.