At the start of the American Revolutionary War "Burford" was commissioned under Captain G Bowyer for Ireland and completed fitting out at Plymouth Dockyard in May 1777. Between March and November 1777 she was at Portsmouth Dockyard fitting for the East Indies at a cost of £11,393.9.7d. Initially commissioned in May 1778 by Captain Taylor Penny, she was taken over by Captain Peter Rainier in October of that year before sailing on 7 March 1779 for service with Rear Admiral Edward Hughes on the East Indies Station. She participated in destruction of shipping at Mangalore on 8 December 1780, and then in the battles of Sadras, Providien, Negapatam, Trincomalee and Cuddalore against the French Chef d'escadre Suffren. In 1784 she returned to England with Sir Richard king, arriving at Woolwich Dockyard on 3 July 1784.