She was bought by the Nourse Line in 1883, and was the fastest vessel in their fleet until British Ambassador was commissioned.

[1] In 1878, however, British Peer's sailing power was compromised when alterations were made to increase her tonnage by lengthening her hull by 32 feet (9.8 m), and she was never as fast again.

[2] British Peer, like other Nourse Line ships, was involved in the indentured labour trade.

In November 1894, she again stopped in at the Cape of Good Hope, carrying a cargo of salt and 471 Indian indentured labourers.

A Court of Enquiry, held on 7 January 1897, found that "the loss of the ship was occasioned by reckless navigation on the part of the master".