On 12 April 1809, "Calcutta" was part of the squadron of La Rochelle under captain Jean Baptiste Lafon. During the Battle of the Basque Roads, "Calcutta" ran aground on the shoals of Les Palles, as did most of the other French ships. Under fire from "Imperieuse" under Captain Lord Cochrane, "Calcuttas" crew panicked and abandoned ship without orders. A midshipman with a small party from "Imperieuse" took over "Calcutta", but then set her afire to prevent her re-capture, causing her to explode.