On 26 June 1807, the Treasury Department of the United States authorized the Baltimore customs collector to build the cutter James Madison.

[4] After the outbreak of the War of 1812 in June, on 5 July, James Madison detained the British schooner Wade at Amelia Island, which at that time belonged to Spanish Florida.

The size of her crew was anomalously large for a Revenue Marine vessel, suggesting that Brooks had intended to engage in privateering.

[4] Six days later he succeeded in capturing the British brig Shamrock, May, master, of 300 tons bm, six guns, and a crew of 15 men.

[7] James Madison's last cruise began on 15 August when she left Savannah in the company of the privateers Paul Jones, Hazard, and Spencer.

[2][8] James Madison dogged the convoy until 21 August, when Brooks ordered a night attack on a ship he believed to be a large merchantman.

[8] At the time of her capture, James Madison was pierced for 14 guns, carried ten, but had thrown two overboard during the chase.

On 3 September an American privateer schooner of 14 guns started shadowing James Madison and the vessels she was escorting.

During the subsequent four days the privateer stayed close enough to exchange occasional shots with James Madison, but did not succeed in capturing anything.

The Navy surveyed her on 13 October 1812 and found her unfit for British naval service as she was too slight and exhibited some rotten timber.

Four of the prisoners of war sent to Melville Island Prison—March Hart and Charles, James Lewis, and John Bulloch—were found to be slaves belonging to the mayor of Savannah, William B. Bulloch, who would have received their pay from the voyage.

Later, Belmore had her armed; her warrant as a letter of marque against the United States named Richard Chambers as master and the size of her crew as 30 men.

The party included Belmore's wife, the Countess Juliana, their two sons, their lapdog Rosa, the family doctor, Dr. Robert Richardson, M.D.