HMS "Donegal" had spent 1800 in Plymouth, and in 1801 came under the command of Captain Sir Richard Strachan, "Donegal" was initially deployed in the English Channel, but following the outbreak of hostilities with Spain, she was assigned to watch the French squadron off Spain which was in Cadiz. Whilst on this station, she spotted and gave chase to the large 42-gun Spanish frigate "Amfitrite" on the morning of 24 November 1804.