The Naval Defence Act 1889 resulted in orders being placed for 21 second-class protected cruisers of the Apollo-class, together with 8 of the larger and better armed development, the Astraea class.

[1] Indefatigable was one of 10 ships of the class that were sheathed in wood and copper to reduce fouling when serving in tropical waters.

[3] She was in Port of Spain in late 1902, when in December that year she was ordered to take part in an Anglo-German blockade of the coast of Venezuela during the Venezuelan crisis of 1902–1903.

[4][5] In 1905, Indefatigable went into reserve at Portsmouth, recommissioning in January 1906 as part of the 4th Cruiser Squadron on the North America and West Indies Station.

[6] In May 1912, Melpomene was active off the coast of Mexico during the Mexican Revolution, and was reported to be about to land a force of Marines to protect British subjects.