Baltimore was launched in Maryland in 1810. She was commissioned at Baltimore as a letter of marque on 26 August 1812. Captain Edward Veasey sailed on 12 September with a cargo for Bordeaux. Then on 28 September Baltimore captured Point Share, which had been sailing from Barbados to Newfoundland with a cargo of dried codfish. Veasey took Point Share's master and crew on board Baltimore and sent his prize into Baltimore with a prize crew. Point Shares arrived at Baltimore on 20 October. By then, Baltimore herself had already fallen prey to the Royal Navy.