Built in Spain in 1775, she served during the early years of the French Revolutionary Wars until being captured while sailing as part of a squadron off Cartagena.

[3] Their attempts to raid shipping in the area were unsuccessful, and while returning to port at 09:00 on 15 July, the 64-gun HMS Lion, under Captain Manley Dixon, spotted them.

Realizing that Manley was attempting to cut off and engage Santa Dorotea, O'Neil ordered the front three frigates to turn around and sail to her defence.

Securing his prize, Dixon spent the next day conducting extensive repairs before sending Santa Dorotea to Earl St Vincent off Cadiz.

[9] One of the Spanish prisoners taken was the future Argentine general José de San Martín, who at the time was a staff member on Santa Dorothea.

In 1847, the Admiralty authorized the issuance of the Naval General Service Medal with the clasp "LION 15 JULY 1798" to the remaining British survivors of the action.

[11] Because Santa Dorothea served in the navy's Egyptian campaign (8 March to 2 September 1801), her officers and crew qualified for the "Egypt" clasp on the Naval General Service Medal that the Admiralty authorised in 1850 for all surviving claimants.