HMS Hannibal was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Adams of Bucklers Hard and launched in May 1810. On 26 March 1814, Hannibal, Hebrus, and Sparrow encountered two French frigates, the Sultane and the Etoile, which were returning from the Cape Verde Islands and a cruise of commerce raiding. Hannibal set off after Sultane and sent Hebrus and Sparrow after Etoile. Both French vessels were captured the next day. Hannibal captured Sultane, without a fight. Hebrus captured Étoile, but only after severe fighting.