On 7 October 1800, off Sand Heads, near Calcutta, "Confiance" met the 40-gun East Indiaman "Kent", of 824 tons burthen, under Captain Robert Rivington. "Kent" had rescued the crew of another ship, "Queen", destroyed by fire, and therefore had an exceptionally large complement of 437 men, including her passengers; 300 of them were soldiers and sailors; Surcouf managed to board his larger opponent and, after over an hour and a half of battle across the decks of the ship, seize control of the "Kent".