Armed with two 8-pdr guns and fourteen 24-pdr carronades, construction of LE CYGNE was begun in Le Havre at the end of April 1806. She was launched on 12 September of the same year by the builder Jamez, based on the engineer Pestel's plans. 90 feet in length, with a midship beam measuring 26 feet, 6 inches, a depth of 13 feet, 6 inches, this ship is one of the most representative of the brig called a 24-pdr in the French Navy (the caliber of the carronades in the main armaments). Approximately 60 such ships were built during the period 1801-1813.