Captained by Joseph Grégoire Casy, Hercule distinguished herself in 1837 by beating in Rio de Janeiro and Newport, Rhode Island. From 1839, she was appointed to the Mediterranean squadron, under captain Fauré. In 1842, she was transferred to the Middle East. In October 1850, she was sent to Brest for a refit. Her armament was updated to sport Paixhans guns. In 1860, she was struck from the lists of the Navy. From this point on, she was used as a support ship. She was used as a prison hulk from 1875 in Brest, France, and broken up in 1882.