Minorca was built with a sloop hull, but broader. She was rigged as a
xebec, with square-rigged and lateen sails. The Navy classified her as a
ship-sloop. Commander the Honourable Charles S. Conway commissioned her in June 1778. On 4 March 1779, Patrick Leslie was promoted to Commander into
Minorca, replacing Conway. Leslie received promotion to
post captain on 26 January 1780. His replacement was Commander
Charles Knowles, who received a promotion to post captain and command of on 4 February. Knowles' replacement was Lieutenant, later Commander, Hugh Lawson. On 30 July 1780
Minorca and
Porcupine engaged the French frigate off the
Barbary coast. The two-hour engagement was indecisive.
Porcupine and
Minorca withdrew because even if
Montreal had struck, they could not have taken her off. Also, three other ships had appeared on the horizon. The French lost four killed, including their captain. The English had five killed and two wounded; two of the dead were on
Minorca. ==Fate==