Surcouf started his career as a sailor and officer on the slave ships "Aurore", "Courrier d'Afrique" and "Navigateur". Having risen to captain, and in spite of the prohibition of slave trading by the National Convention in 1793, he engaged in the business himself as a captain on "Créole". He then captained the merchantman "Émilie", on which he engaged in commerce raiding despite lacking a letter of marque. He preyed on British shipping, capturing the East Indiaman "Triton", before returning to Île de France in the Indian Ocean, where his prizes were confiscated. He then returned to France, where he obtained prize money from the government.