Syren departed Philadelphia on 27 August 1803 passing by Cape Henlopen on 3 September[7] and reached Gibraltar on 1 October.

On 11 October, 1803 in Tangier Bay she collided with USS New York, almost being run down by the frigate, receiving damage to her rigging and losing an anchor.

just after midnight 29 November while at sea she was caught by a severe storm, being put on her beams ens, filled to the waist with water and her jolly boat destroyed.

[3][9] The first action Syren was involved in was an attack aimed at destroying USS Philadelphia, a frigate that had run aground the previous autumn and that Tripolitan gunboats had then captured.

To prevent Philadelphia from opposing his planned operations against Tripoli, the commander of the American squadron in the Mediterranean, Commodore Edward Preble, decided to destroy her.

However, before the American ships could launch their attack, they were driven off by a violent gale and did not get back off Tripoli until 16 February.

On 5 March she detained a Prussian brig on a voyage from Tunis to Candia with Turkish passengers, she was sent to Malta, arriving same day, where Squadron Commander Preble immediately released her.

[14] On 22 March Syren captured a Russian flagged polacca named Madonna di Catapoliani or "Madona de Catapolaigne" and sent her to Malta.

The ship continued to support the squadron's operation against Tripoli which forced the Pasha to accede to American demands.

[3] In 1809, her sailing master at the Norfolk Navy Yard was Captain John "Mad Jack" Percival.

[19] The following month Syren left Belize and proceeded to Cuba where after three weeks searching for a Royal Navy sloop, probably Herald, she sailed for the coast of Florida putting in at New Orleans before departing on 9 May 1813.

[20] By January 1814 Syren was in Massachusetts and was now commanded by Lieutenant Parker,[21] In February she sailed along with a privateer, Grand Turk.

After an 11-hour chase Medway captured her despite Syren having lightened her load by throwing overboard her guns, anchors and boats.