 On 7 October 1779, he captured the 20-gun HMS "Ariel".Lapérouse was promoted to Captain on 4 April 1780, and was part of the Expédition particulière under Admiral Ternay, departing Brest on 2 May 1780.From October to November 1780, "Amazone" sailed from Rhode Island to Lorient, and from there to the Caribbean.