French privateers captured her twice, but on the first occasion the British Royal Navy recaptured her, and on the second her captor did not keep her.

Her first captain was Henry Mackie (or Machey, or Mackay, or Mackey), and he would go on to sail her on her first three whaling voyages.

[2] Just before she returned the French privateer Gironde captured Young William, but HMS Fisgard captured Gironde and recaptured Young William, and some other vessels, including Joseph, another returning whaler.

Some time between August and early December, she captured Meuw Schrueder, which had been sailing from Batavia to Amsterdam, and brought her into Plymouth.

[13] The French privateer Bellone captured her near the Cape of Good Hope later in 1805, but gave her up.

[2] Voyage #10: Young William sailed on 14 January 1807, bound for the Isle of Desolation, via Port Jackson.

[b] Young William arrived at Port Jackson on 7 July, where she delivered stores.

[15] Young William left Desolation Island on 15 December 1808, and reached St Helena on 11 February 1809.