The Exeter City was the first of two British cargo steamers of that name built for the Bristol City Line that plied the route between Bristol and New York.

The ship was built by Blyth Shipbuilding and Dry Docks Company in 1887 to the three-island principle.

It was the first of two cargo steamers of that name built for the Bristol City Line, who had a practice of naming their ships after notable cities.

It was driven by a triple-expansion mechanism and made around ten knots.

[1] The funnel colours for the line were black with white band containing a blue, five pointed star.