She was launched at Deptford in May 1751 at a cost of £29,000 then taken to Chatham Dockyard for fitting out to Royal Navy specification (including addition of guns) at a cost of around £8000. She was commissioned and formally brought into service in 1755 and put under command of Captain Michael Everitt who sailed her to the Mediterranean with Admiral John Byng's fleet. On 20 May 1756 she took place in the Battle of Minorca. Immediately after the battle command passed to Captain Edward Pratten who took her to the Leeward Islands immmedialy after repairs at Chatham. In May 1757 command passed to Richard Tyrell.