She served on the China Station, and in the First World War in the Gallipoli Campaign, along with her sisters Endymion, Grafton and Theseus.

On 13 November 1895 the ship's pinnace capsized in a storm off the coast of Chemulpo, Korea.

[4] A crew for the river service steamer HMS Robin, built at Hong Kong, was also included.

[5] She left Devonport on 3 March,[6] and called at Gibraltar, Malta, Aden, Colombo and Singapore, before she arrived at the station headquarters at Hong Kong later that spring.

In April 1902 her boilers were re-tubed due to defects, and after taking part in the Coronation review in August 1902, she was commissioned to relieve Endymion serving on the China Station.