"Guerrière" served with the French Navy during the Napoleonic Wars under Commander Louis Alexis Baudoin, initially trapped in harbour by the Blockade of Saint-Domingue. She was with the 74-gun "Duguay-Trouin" on 24 July 1803, when the latter ship was spotted by a British ship off Cape Picolet. The 74-gun HMS "Elephant", under Captain George Dundas gave chase, and the two ships exchanged several broadsides. The 18-gun sloop HMS "Snake" appeared on the north-west quarter, but the "Elephant", either because of the appearance of "Guerrière" to windward, or for another unexplained reason, failed to maintain her position alongside "Duguay-Trouin". Consequently, both French ships were able to escape. However, "Duquesne", a 74-gun armed en flûte (removing some or all of her armament), was captured.