"Phoenix" first appeared in the supplement to "Lloyd's Register" for 1811. Her owner's name is given as Gould & Co., and her master as William Pyke. Initially, her trade was given as Plymouth to London. Pyke received a letter of marque on 7 June 1811. In 1812 her master became "Parker", and her trade changed to London–South Seas, that is she became a whaler. In 1812 her owner became Daniel Bennett, owner of several whalers, and she embarked for the South Seas whale fisheries in February 1812.