HMS Prometheus was an Alecto-class sloop designed by Sir William Symonds, Surveyor of the Navy.

[1] She initially served mainly on the west coast of Africa on the anti-slavery patrol except for a brief period on particular service in the Black Sea in late 1855.

[2] Prometheus was the second named vessel since it was used for an 18-gun fireship, Launched by Thompson of Southampton on 27 March 1807, assigned to harbour service in May 1819, then renamed Veteran on 2 May 1839 and broken in August 1852.

[Note 1] Her first commission started on 21 November 1839 under the command of Lieutenant Thomas Spark, RN for service in the Mediterranean.

[6] She was commissioned on 15 May 1844 under the command of Lieutenant John Hay, RN for service on the west coast of Africa.

[9] She commissioned under Commander Henry Richard Foote, RN for service on the west coast of Africa.

[16] Her last commission started on 19 October 1859 under Commander Sidmouth Stowell Skipwith, RN for service on the west coast of Africa.