She had been sailing from Buenos Ayres to London when she had encountered the Spanish letter of marque Rita, Atrate, master.

In February 1819, William, Smith, master, fortuitously discovered the South Shetland Islands whilst sailing from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso.

Smith had been blown off course in Drake Passage and sighted Williams Point, the northeast extremity of Livingston Island, on 19 February 1819.

[6] On reaching Valparaiso, Smith reported his discovery of the islands and the abundance of seals there, to Captain William Henry Shirreff, of HMS Andromache,[7] which had arrived there about 5 September 1818.

Shirreff chartered William to carry a party consisting of Lieutenant Edward Bransfield, three midshipmen, and a ship's surgeon.