On 23 July 1840, she ran aground at Buenos Aires, Argentina, whilst on a voyage from that port to Monte Video, Uruguay.

[2] Actaeon returned to Plymouth in 1844, before departing under Captain George Mansel in December 1844 to join the West Africa Squadron.

[3] Actaeon was paid off at Portsmouth in 1848, but was recommissioned again in 1857 to serve as a survey vessel off "the coast of China and Tartary", under the command of Captain William Thornton Bate.

The figurehead for Actaeon was carved by the Dickerson family of Devonport, Plymouth, most likely by Frederick who took over as master carver in 1830.

We are only certain of his identity owing to the reference in the 1911 Admiralty Catalogue that states the Actaeon figurehead was presented to Portsmouth Dock by John Read, who had purchased the ship for breaking up.

[8] Once work on Actaeon's figurehead was complete, it would have been transported to Portsmouth Dockyard ready for the ship's launch.