She combined much of the speed of the sleek, early 1850s extreme clippers with the larger cargo capacity of the fuller-bottomed traditional packet ships.

[1] Carrier Dove was dismasted in a hurricane just eight days out of New York City on her maiden voyage to San Francisco in 1855.

The remainder of her trip around the Horn was more favorable, and she arrived in San Francisco on April 25, 1856, after a voyage of 98 days.

Her voyage from New York to San Francisco in 1860 under Captain Montell was more fortunate, and she arrived in 127 days.

She went ashore at Portmagee, County Kerry, in February 1863, but was repaired and auctioned to her former owners, Trask & Dearborn.