HMS Medea was one of the initial steam-powered vessels built for the Royal Navy.

On 10 January 1831 the new First Lord Sir James Graham, 2nd Baronet gave orders that four paddle vessels be built to competitive designs.

The vessels were to be powered by Maudslay, Son & Field steam engines, carry a schooner rig and mount one or two 10-inch shell guns.

Medea was the fifth named vessel (spelt Medea or Medee) since it was introduced for a 26-gun, sixth rate (Medee) captured from the French on 4 April 1744 by HMS Dreadnought, sold in March 1745 to become the privateer Boscawen.

During her steam trials the engine generated 900 indicated horsepower (670 kW) for a speed of 10.6 knots (19.6 km/h).

[6] Her armament initially consisted of two Miller's Original 10-inch 84 hundredweight (cwt)[Note 1] muzzle loading smooth bore (MLSB) shell guns on pivot mounts and two Bloomfield's 32-pounder[Note 2] 25 cwt MLSB guns on broadside trucks.

[11] She commissioned on 12 August 1840 under Commander Frederick Warden, RN for service in the Mediterranean.

When ordered to return to Home Waters she proceeded to Greece to pick up the Xanthian Marbles.

These were a group of marble artifacts discovered in Greece by Sir Charles Fellows at the city of Xanthus in 1838 and are now on display in the British Museum.

Ordered to Home Waters she arrived on 1 July 1850 carrying the Koh-i-Noor diamond.

She returned to Home Waters paying off into the Portsmouth Steam Reserve on 17 June 1856.