Lord Forbes was launched at Chester in 1803 as a West Indiaman. She soon became an "armed defense ship", but by 1805 had returned to being a West Indiaman. She made two voyages as an "extra" ship for the British East India Company (EIC). She continued trading with India until 1817 when she sustained damage on her way to Bengal. There she was surveyed, condemned and sold. Career Lord Forbes was launched in 1803. She appeared in Lloyd's Register for 1803 with Moundson, master, W. Forbes, owner, and trade Liverpool–Madeira. Following the resumption of war with France in early 1803, concern developed in Britain about Napoleon's planned invasion of the United Kingdom. The British government's response took many forms including the reactivation of Fencible regiments and the Sea Fencibles, a program of the construction of Martello Towers along the coasts of Britain and Ireland, and the commissioning of a number of armed defense ships. The British East India Company in November voted to underwrite 10,000 tons (bm) of armed transports to protect Great Britain's coasts. The vessels were existing, but not EIC, merchantmen that would receive an upgrade in armament and that would receive a naval officer as captain. One of the vessels was Lord Forbes; the others were Albion, , , Aurora, , Diadem, , Helder, , Lord Nelson, , , , , Sir Alexander Mitchell, , and Triton. On 21 November 1803 Lord Forbes, of 548 tons (bm) and 20 guns, was reported to have been appointed to the Glasgow station. Around late 1804 or 1805 the Navy returned the armed defense ships to their owners. Lord Forbes returned to the West Indies trade. On 11 March 1805 the sloop-of-war sprang a leak and foundered in the Atlantic Ocean off the Outer Hebrides while escorting a convoy from Jamaica to London. Lord Forbes and other ships rescued her crew. On 14 July 1805, Lord Forbes, Lutwick Affleck, master, arrived at Cork from Liverpool. After he left Cork Junos underwriters in London presented Captain Affleck with a bowl inscribed with the major facts of the engagement. The Liverpool Committee of Underwriters presented him with a bill of exchange drawn on London for £120 for the purchase of piece of plate. Affleck, when captain of , of eighteen 6-pounder guns and 44 men, had resisted , of twenty-two 24-pounder and twelve 9-pounder guns, and 390 men in a notable action