The vessel was constructed in America in 1764, but was captured by the British in the American War of Independence, and operated as both a whaler and a general cargo ship until 1888, when she was broken up.

She was constructed with a "tumble home" design, with her hull sides (topsides) sloping inwards to the upper decks from the water line.

Her topsides were constructed with planks overlapping in such a way as to allow water to drain freely from the upper decks.

While operating as a merchant ship, she was fitted with twelve guns for defence against French attack.

In 1849, the ship carried relief supplies in support of Franklin's lost expedition, during which time she was threatened with sinking several times due to pack ice, including one instance when she was trapped for six weeks in Melville Bay.