On 30 October 1788, Léopard departed Toulon for a cruise in the Caribbean, under Captain de la Galissoninère.[1]
On 15 September 1790, a fight between sailors from Léopard and caused a mutiny; the entire crew of Léopard was expelled from the Navy by a decree of the National Constituent Assembly.
From 1792, Léopard took part in the Expédition de Sardaigne under Captain Bourdon-Gramont, capturing Carloforte on 8 January 1793. On 17 February, Léopard ran aground in a storm off Cagliari; after two days trying to refloat her, the crew abandoned the ship and set her on fire after offloading the guns and matériel.