She first cruised in the West Indies in 1821–1823, Lieutenant James Ramage in command, hunting pirates.

Cruising the West African coast in 1824–25, the schooner engaged in the suppression of the slave trade.

During this time she participated in the Battle of Doro Passage where she dispatched boats under the command of Lieutenant Louis M. Goldsborough to recapture the British brig Comet from pirates.

While cruising in the West Indies in 1833 under the command of Lt. William Taylor, Porpoise was wrecked on a reef off Point Lizardo.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.