She was designed for the transport of British troops to India, and launched in the River Mersey on 24 November 1866 by Laird Brothers of Birkenhead.

They had a single screw, a speed of 14 knots, one funnel, a barque-rig sail plan, three 4-pounder guns, and a white painted hull.

She was operated by the Royal Navy to transport up to 1,200 troops and family from Portsmouth to Bombay.

[1] On 28 February 1870, she was damaged in a collision with the British merchant ship Bates Family at Bombay, India.

[4] She was sold to I Cohen in Portsmouth on 23 November 1894 and resold to Henry Castle and Son for breaking in August 1895.