Along with the 74-gun of the Temeraire type and the 80-gun of the Tonnant type, the Ocean 120-gun type was to become one of the three French standard types of battleships during the war period 1793 to 1815. Designed by Jacques-Noel Sane, she was launched on 1 October 1803 and completed in February 1804 under the name Vengeur. She was renamed to Imperial in March 1805. The Imperial was the French flagship in the Battle of San Domingo on February, 6th 1806.