"rover" was designed by goodrich & co., and captain francis pender contracted her building in october 1795. she was initially planned as a brig, but during construction she was lengthened and given a full ship rig. an admiralty order of 10 november 1795 agreed the purchase, and she was added to the establishment by a second admiralty order dated 1 january 1796. she was purchased on the stocks and launched in 1796.