Diana (1823)

Diana was a steam paddle steamer built in 1823 as a merchant vessel that in 1824 the Bengal Government purchased.

During the First Anglo-Burmese War she became the first steam-powered warship of the Honourable East India Company to see action.

She was built by Kyds of Kidderpore, Calcutta[1] as a 133-ton merchant vessel with two 16 horsepower (12 kW) side-lever engines manufactured by Henry Maudslay of Lambeth.

She was launched on 12 July 1823, and purchased by the Bengal Government at the suggestion of Commander Frederick Marryat.

In the East India Company's service Diana suppressed piracy and conducted maritime surveys.

Drawing of the bow and stern of Diana
The Harbour of Port Cornwallis, Island of Great Andaman, circa 1825, with the East India Company fleet getting under weigh for Rangoon; Diana is the paddle steamer at the bottom left of this print, and Liffey on the right.