HMS Marlborough (1855)
HMS Marlborough (1855)


Royal NavyVessels

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NameMarlborough (1855)Explanation
TypeFirst rate TypeThree-decker
Launched31 July 1855 Converted to screwon the stocks
HullWooden Length246 feet
PropulsionScrew Men1100
Builders measure3853 tons   
Displacement6065 tons   
Guns131   
Fate1924 Last in commission1864
Class    
Ships book   
Career
DateEvent
1 August 1855Launched at Portsmouth Dockyard (took over a week to launch)
1 February 1858
- 3 May 1860
Commanded (from commissioning) by Captain Frederick Herbert Kerr, flagship of Vice-Admiral Arthur Fanshawe, Mediterranean
3 May 1860
- June 1863
Commanded by Captain William Houston Stewart, flagship of Vice-Admiral William Fanshawe Martin, Mediterranean
1 June 1863
- 1 December 1864
Commanded (until paying off at Portsmouth) by Captain Charles Fellowes, flagship of Vice-Admiral Robert Smart, Mediterranean
1864Receiving ship, Portsmouth
(1870)Portsmouth, re-rated as a 98.
December 1878Training ship for engineers, Portsmouth
(1890)Attached to Asia as Receiving Hulk for Steam Reserve, Portsmouth
March 1904Renamed Vernon II, part of torpedo training depot.
29 November 1924Sank off Selsey under tow to the breakers at Osea Island, Essex (4 men lost).
Extracts from the Times newspaper
DateExtract
We 28 September 1859The following is the distribution of the Mediterranean fleet at Malta:- Screw steamships of the Line.- The Marlborough, 131 (flagship of Vice-Admiral Fanshawe), on her way to Gibraltar, left Malta on the 15th of September; the Hannibal, 91 (flagship of Rear-Admiral Mundy), coast of Sicily; the Conqueror, 101, Gibraltar; the St. Jean d'Acre, 101, coast of Sicily; the Orion, 91, Gibraltar; the Princess Royal, 91, Gibraltar; the Renown, 91, Malta; the Victor Emmanuel, 91, Gibraltar; the Exmouth, 90, Naples; the London, 90, coast of Sicily; the Brunswick, 80, coast of Sicily; the Centurion, 80, Gibraltar; and the Cressy, 80, left Malta on the 5th of September. Steam Frigates.- The Euryalus, 51, Piraeus of Athens; the Liffey, 51, Piraeus of Athens; the Doris, 32, left Malta on the 13th of September; and the Terrible, 21, Naples. Steam Corvettes.- The Racoon, 22, Corfu; the Cadmus, 21, Malta; and the Vulture, 6, Morocco coast. Steam Sloops.- The Gannet, 11, Piraeus of Athens; the Argus, 6, Malta; the Intrepid, 6, Constantinople; the Recruit, 6, Malta; the Scourge, 6, Malta; the Assurance, 4, left Malta on the 31st of August; the Coquette, 4, Marseilles; the Lapwing, 4, Gibraltar; the Osprey, 4, Corfu; the Vigilant, 4, Venice; and the Wanderer, 4, Candia. Steam Gunboats.- The Growler, Gibraltar; and the Quail, Gibraltar. Steam Despatch-vessels.- The Banshee, 2, Malta; and the Caradoc, 2, Malta. Steam-tender.- The Boxer, 2, Malta. Steam Surveying-vessels.- The Medina, 4, Candia ; and the Tartarus, 4, Candia. Receiving-ship.- The Hibernia (flag of Rear-Admiral Codrington), Malta. Depot-ship.- The Africa, Gibraltar. Tugs.- The Hearty, Malta; and the Redpole, 2, Gibraltar. Sailing Gunboats.- The Azof, 2, Malta; and the Kertch, 2, Malta.
Ma 24 October 1859By the last accounts received at Malta the Marlborough, 131, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Fanshawe, the Commander-in-chief, with Rear Admiral Dacres on board as Captain of the Fleet; the Conqueror, 101; the Orion, 91; the Princess Royal; 91; the Renown, 91, steam-ships of the line; the Vulture, 6, steam frigate; the Scourge, 6, the Coquette, 4, and the Lapwing, 4, steam sloops; the Growler steam gunboat; the African depot ship; the Redpole steam tug were at Gibraltar, as well as the Edgar, 91, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Erskine, and the Neptune, 91, steamships of the line belonging to the Channel fleet. The Caesar, 90, the James Watt, 91, the Agamemnon, 91, steamships of the line, and the Virago, 6, steam sloop, were on their way to Gibraltar and the Mediterranean from England; and on her way to Malta from England and Gibraltar the Supply, 2, steam storeshlp. On her way to Gibraltar and England the Firebrand, 6, steam sloop. The Doris, 32, steam frigate, was at Tetuan, and the Quail steam gunboat at Tangier.
Fr 26 July 1861The screw steamship Donegal, 99, Capt. Sherard Osborn, C.B., which left Gibraltar on the 12th, entered Plymouth Sound on the 23d current. She went out under steam, and returned home under steam and canvass. Fine weather prevailed until Monday last, when there sprang up a heavy gale from the south-west and north-west. During the storm, in lat. 48 30 north, long. 6 6 west, Thomas Woolf, able seaman, fell over, or was washed from the fore chains. The life-buoy was dropped instantly and a boat was promptly lowered and gallantly manned, under Lieut. Edward G. Maddock. After a prolonged absence, the sea running very high and tho weather hazy, a recall gun was fired, when Thomas Southworth, ordinary seaman, was unfortunately blown overboard. He drew out the tompion and returned unobserved to the muzzle of the gun, it is supposed for the purpose of taking out some rags. It was with some danger that those who wero unsuccessful in rescuing Woolf were got on board the ship. The Donegal brings 36 military invalids from the garrison, three naval invalids from the St. Jean d'Acre, 99, Capt. the Hon. T.B. Elliot, C.B., and six convicts from Gibraltar. She has also 42 guns of various sizes from the Acre, in exchange for others of modem construction which she conveyed to that ship. The Donegal left at Gibraltar the Acre, the steam gunboat Procris, Lieut, and Commander the Hon. John Carnegie, and the paddlewheel steam-tug Redpole, 1, tender to the Hibernia. Off Algesiras was the Spanish squadron, consisting of one line-of-battle ship, two frigates, and two gunboats. At 11 a.m. on Monday, in lat 47 40 N., long. 7 W., the Donegal spoke the screw steamship Marlborough, 131, Capt. W.H. Stewart, C.B., beating to the westward, all well; and in the afternoon, during the gale, she passed a line-of-batfle ship, name unknown. On entering the Channel the Donegal tried her rate of sailing with a clipper merchant ship, which she distanced completely in a few hours. The Donegal will probably go into Hamoaze to exchange the Acre's old guns, after which she will, it is said, join the Channel fleet, to which the belongs.
Th 26 February 1863We have received the following letter from ant Malta correspondent, dated Valetta, Feb. 21:-
"The arrangements made for Prince Alfred going home have been unavoidably altered, I regret to say, owing to the unexpected illness of the young Prince, who has been suffering from a severe attack of cold and fever. The St. George, 84, Capt. the Hon. F. Egerton, having Prince Alfred on board, arrived here from Naples on Thursday last, and the Magicienne, 16, Capt. his Serene Highness the Prince of Leiningen, which, had proceeded from Malta to convey his Royal Highness to Marseilles, returned the same day from Naples. The Duke of Sutherland, accompanied by the Duchess, arrived at Malta on Sunday last from Alexandria, in his steam yacht Undine. They continued their voyage on Tuesday for Sicily and Naples. Her Majesty's despatch boat Psyche, Lieut-Commander Sterne, has arrived at Constantinople, and relieved the Trident, 6, Commander Balfour, which left on the 10th inst for Malta. Her Majesty's ships in Malta harbour are the Marlborough, 131 (bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir W.F. Martin, K.C.B.); the Hibernia, receiving ship (bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral H.J. Codrington, C.B.); the St. George, 84; the Magicienne, 16; the Icarus, 11: the Medina and the Firefly, surveying ships; and the Boxer and Growler, tenders."

Her Majesty's screw steam corvette Racoon, 22, Capt. Victor Count Gleichen, which has recently been refitted at Chatham Dockyard, was taken from Sheerness harbour for her final trial on Monday previously to proceeding to sea. The Racoon carries an armament of two 110 lb. Armstrong guns, one 12 lb. Armstrong and one 12 lb. smooth bore guns for boats, one 12 lb. Armstrong fieldpiece, and one 6 lb. smooth bore gun for practice at short ranges on the upper deck; 16 8-inch smooth bore, and four 40 lb. Armstrong guns on the main deck. The most experienced workmen have been employed in fitting her out, which has been done on the principle most approved in the service, and no expense or labour has been spared to render her, as she undoubtedly is, one of the finest vessels of her class now afloat. The trial was under the superintendence of Capt. T.P. Thompson, of the Sheerness steam reserve, and took place at the measured mile off Maplin Sands, Messrs. W. Rumble, inspector of machinery afloat at Sheerness, and Baker, chief inspector of Chatham Dockyard, were in attendance to note the results with respect to the working of the machinery, and the condition of the ship was also minutely inspected by Messrs. Moore, of Chatham Dockyard, and Martin, assistant-master shipwright at Sheerness. The engines were in charge of Mr. Lawson, chief engineer of the ship. The vessel attained an average speed at full boiler power of 10.1 knots per hour; revolutions of engines, 54 per minute; pressure of steam, 20 lb.; vacuum, 25 1b.; while at half-boiler power the average speed was 7.279 knots; revolutions of engines, 42. The circle was turned with full boiler-power, helm to port, 17 deg., in 5 min. 21 secs.; with half-boiler power, helm to starboard, 23 deg., in 5 min. 59 secs. The engines were stopped when going at full speed in 16 secs, from the time of moving the telegraph; they were started ahead in 35 secs., and astern in 25 secs. from dead stop. The Racoon is fitted with trunk engines, 400-horse power, made by Messrs. Ravenhill, Salkeld, and Co., and common screw with corners cut off; pitch, 26 ft.; diameter, 16 ft.; length of blade, 3 ft. During the trial the draught of water was 18 ft. 2 in. forward and 19 ft. 6 in. aft. There was an entire absence of hot bearings or priming, and the trial was pronounced highly successful both as regards the machinery and the qualities of the vessel. The Racoon left Sheerness harbour on Tuesday for Greenhithe, where she will be stationed until after the arrival of her Royal Highness the Princess Alexandra, after which she will proceed to Portsmouth and remain there till the Royal marriage ceremony is over, when she is expected to leave for a lengthened cruise on the coasts of Norway, Sweden, and Iceland.

Sa 19 September 1863The following is the letter of our Malta Correspondent, dated Valetta, Sept.14 -,
"Her Majesty's iron screw troopship Orontes, 2, Capt. W. Hire, arrived last night from England and Gibraltar, having on board from the latter place the 2d battalion 7th Regiment, consisting of 25 officers, 832 men. 73 women, 6 ladies, and 97 children under the command of Major R. Hibbert. She also had on board Assist.-Adjt.-Gen. Maude, Capt. Clarke, R.A., Dr. Clarke, R.A., Capt. Durnford, R.E., and 10 naval officers supernumeraries for the fleet. The regiment will disembark today and relieve the 4th battalion Rifle Brigade, which is to embark in the Orontes on Tuesday or Wednesday for Gibraltar. Her Majesty's iron paddlewheel sloop Trident, 3, Commander C.J. Balfour, arrived to-day from Gibraltar to be employed in victualling the fleet. Her Majesty's screw corvette Cossack, 20, W.R. Rolland, arrived at the Piraeus, from Malta, on the 26th ult., and was to leave on the 1st inst. for Beyrout, to relieve the Chanticleer, 17, Commander C. Stirling. Her Majesty's ship Marlborough, 121 (bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral R. Smart, K.H.), Capt. the Hon. F. Egerton; the Trafalgar, 70, Capt. T. Mason; the Meeanee, 60, Capt. G. Wodehouse; and the Icarus, 11, Commander N. Salmon, V.C., which last arrived on the 29th ult., were anchored in Phalerum Bay. The Cossack remained in Phalerum Bay till the 29th, when she went into the Piraeus, and took up her berth alongside the Orlando, 46. Capt. G.G. Randolph, the only other English ship there. The French ship Magicienne, and two other French war vessels, one Turk, one Greek, and one Italian, were also lying in the Piraeus. The Austrian frigate Novara and another Austrian vessel left early in the morning of the 1st. inst., soon after the arrival of the mail. The English frigate Magicienne, 16, Capt. W. Armytage, called in at Phalerum Bay, on the 28th ult., to communicate with the Admiral, and the Surprise, 4, Commander C.M. Seymour, left for Patras the same day. A court-martial was held on board the Cossack on the 1st, to try a private of Marines for striking a sergeant. The prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced to penal servitude for five years. Her Majesty's ship Queen, 74, Capt. C.F. Hillyar, leaves after the arrival of the mail from Marseilles. due to-night, for Athens, with stores and provisions, and 20,000l. in specie, for the use of the fleet.
Fr 16 October 1863We have received the following letter from our Malta correspondent, dated Valetta, October 10:-
"Letters from the fleet in Greek waters give the following news:- The latest date is the 3d inst. The country continues in a tranquil state, the arrival of the new King being looked forward to with feelings of pleasing expectation and deep interest. Her Majesty's ship Revenge, 73 (bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Yelverton, C.B.), which is to escort the young King from a port in France to his new dominions, does not leave Malta for Toulon until Monday next, the 12th inst. Her orders are to be at Toulon by the 15th, and the King is not expected there till the 22d or 23d. It is reported that the Orlando, 46, Capt. G.G. Randolph, which left the Piraeus on the 25th ult. for Corfu, and the West Coast of Greece, will form part of the escort squadron. The following ships of war are at present at the Piraeus:- English.- Marlborough, 121, Capt. C. Fellowes (bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Smart, K.H.); Trafalgar, 70, Capt. T. Mason; the Queen, 74, Capt. F. Hillyar; the St. George, 84, Capt. the Hon. F. Egerton (in Salamis Bay); and the Boxer, 2, gunboat, Lieut.-Commander F.S.D. Broughton, tender to the Marlborough. French.- The Magicienne, 23, screw frigate, bearing the flag of the Rear-Admiral commanding; the Tangier, 4, and the Mouette, 4, paddlewheel steamers. Austrian.- The Dandolo, 22, screw corvette; and the Wall, 4, screw gunboat. Italian.- The Tancrede, 4, paddlewheel steamer. Turkish.- The Broussa, 22, screw corvette. Greek.- The Athens, 6, paddlewheel steamer, and a screw gunboat. The English paddlewheel frigate Magicienne, 16, Capt. W. Armytage, sailed from the Piraeus on the 1st inst. for Nauplia and Patras. The Pelican, 17, screw corvette, Acting-Commander Bogle, was expected at Athens about the 10th inst. from Beyrout. She was to return and winter on the coast of Syria. The Liffey, 35, screw frigate, Capt. G. Parker, was also to winter on some part of that station. The Cossack, 22, Capt. W.R. Rolland, and the Icarus, 11, Commander N. Salmon, V. C.. are at present there. Report says that the Marlborough will shortly return to Malta. The Admiral intends, however, to remain at the Piraeus, and hoist his flag on board the Queen. The three men who perpetrated the cowardly murder of a marine belonging to Her Majesty's gunboat Foxhound some months since are about to be brought to trial before the Criminal Court of Athens, the decision of which will be final. The Trident, 3, iron paddlewheel sloop, Commander C.J. Balfour, arrived at the Piraeus on the 25th ult. from Malta with a mail and despatches, and returned on the 6th inst., bringing despatches and letters from the squadron; also three naval cadets and an assistant-clerk for the Meeanee, and two naval cadets for the Phoebe. She steamed from the Piraeus to Kalamata, where she communicated with the Wanderer, 4, gunboat, Commander M.C. Seymour, and performed the remaining portion of the voyage to Malta, with the exception of the last 12 hours, under sail, acquitting herself better than was expected. The Liffey was expected at Kalamata on the 11th inst. The Foxhound, 4, gunboat, Commander W.H. Anderson, left Malta on the 1st inst. for the Piraeus, and the Meeanee, 60, Capt. G. Wodehouse, quitted port on the 8th for the same destination, both taking mails and despatches for the squadron. The following mail will probably be conveyed by the Trident. The Caradoc, despatch-vessel, Lieut.-Commander E. Wilkinson, is at Constantinople; the Weser, 6, Commander A.H.J. Johnstone, and the Cockatrice, 2, Lieut.- Commander Gillson, are on the Danube station; and the Procris, gunboat. Lieut.-Commander the Hon. J.B. Vivian, is at Gibraltar. There are at present in Malta harbour the receiving ship Hibernia (bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral H.T. Austen, C.B.), Commander R.B. Harvey; the Revenge, 73 (bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral H. R. Yelverton, C.B). Capt. the Hon. F.A. Foley; the Chanticleer, 17, Commander C. Sterling (lately arrived from Syria); the Medina, surveying vessel, Capt. T.A.B. Spratt, C.B. (awaiting her relief the Hydra, 6, paddle-sloop, from England); the Trident, 3, Commander C.J. Balfour; the Psyche, despatch-vessel, Lieut.-Commander Sterne, and the Growler, tender to the Medina (arrived on the 2d inst. from Sicily). The Revenge, having got ashore on the mud at Navarino, was on arrival here admitted into dock for examination. No damage was discovered but what a few sheets of copper will make good. The Phoebe has also been into dock to have her bottom cleaned and examined. Her broken engine is being repaired here, and it will he necessary to cast a new cylinder. It is not expected she will be ready for sea again in much less than three months. Her Majesty's iron screw transport Orontes, 2, Capt. W.H. Hire, which brought here on Wednesday evening, the 30th ult., the 2d Battalion 8th Regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Woods, from Gibraltar, left on return to Gibraltar on Monday, the 5th inst., with the 2d battalion 15th Regiment, under the command of Major Fulton, from this garrison, to replace the former regiment at Gibraltar. She will return with the 100th (Royal Canadian) Regiment, and take away from this the 23d (Royal Welsh) Fusiliers. which have been for some time under order to proceed to Gibraltar in exchange for the 100th. The 8th Regiment is now quartered in Verdala Barracks, on the other aide of the harbour. ... A Prussian steam corvette, the Preussischer Adler, Commodore G. Klatt, and two gunboats, the Basilisk, Lieut. H. Schan, and the Blitz, Lieut. M'Lean, have lately arrived in the Mediterranean from the Baltic, and touched here on their way to the Levant. They left on Sunday and Monday last for Athens, where the Blitz is to remain until further orders. The Preussischer Adler and the Basilisk will go on, the former to be stationed at Constantinople, and the latter on the Danube. They are likely to remain in these waters for two or three years. The Malacca, 17, screw corvette, Capt. G J. Napier, came in this morning in five days from Missolonghi. She is on her way home, having been ordered to England in consequence of legal proceedings having been taken by one of her former officers (Lieut. Armitage) who was dismissed the service by court-martial, and who has brought a charge of conspiracy against certain persons belonging to this ship, who gave evidence in the case. Deputy-Commissary-General Horne arrived to-night by the Euxine from China on his way home. He remains a week at Malta."
We 30 November 1864The Marlborough, three-decker, and Ariel, sloop, will both be paid out of commission alongside Portsmouth dockyard to-morrow. During the time these two vessels, which represent respectively the largest and smallest class of ships in Her Majesty's navy, have been dismantling and returning their stores preparatory to paying out of commission their crews have been granted leave ashore each night after work was over until the following morning, and this liberal treatment of the men appears to have been attended with the happiest results, with one or two solitary exceptions, the men have returned from their leave each morning to their ships soberly and respectably. The work has gone on from day to day with great rapidity. There was an entire absence of the drunkenness so prevalent among seamen in Her Majesty's navy when paying off a few years since. In those days officers and men were by the most stringent orders confined to their ships during the time they were employed in stripping and clearing out ship for paying off. These tyrannical orders have been allowed to fall into disuse, and men are now treated like rational beings. The unwise policy of the old system was exemplified in the émeute on board the Princess Royal.
Fr 2 December 1864The Marlborough, 131, screw three-decker, Capt. Charles Fellowes, late the flagship of the Admiral commanding Her Majesty's ships in the Mediterranean, was paid out of commission yesterday at Portsmouth. The ship was in a very cleanly condition in every part, and the appearance of the crew as they passed round the tables to receive they pay was a credit to themselves and their officers. The Marlborough joins the third-class steam reserve, but will never again be commissioned for foreign service in her present form as a three-decked ship.

The Ariel, 9, screw sloop, Commander Chapman was paid out of commission yesterday morning at Portsmouth. The Ariel has been employed on the Cape of Good Hope station, and has made some lucky captures of slave vessels. On Wednesday the paymaster paid on board to the officers and men the prize money due to them to that date - viz., 2,680l. There yet remains a large balance of prize money to be paid over to the Ariel's crew, which it is calculated will yield a further payment of from 30l. To 35l. To each able seamen, and to other classes in proportion. The warrant officers' total shares of the prize money will not fall much short of 400l. When all has been paid up, nor that of the petty officers much less than 200l. The Ariel will join the steam reserve at Portsmouth, but the amount of her defects, with her small tonnage and shallow depth, render it very probable that she will be turned over to the breaking-up dock.

The Geyser, 6, paddle, Commander Thrupp, sailed from Portsmouth last evening for Devonport, with seamen and marines paid off from the Marlborough and Ariel.
Ma 1 December 1924

29 November 1924

About 3 o'clock on Saturday morning the Marlborough hulk, which, until lately, formed part of the Vernon Torpedo Establishment in Portsmouth Harbour, broke in half and sank near the Owers lightship off Selsey. Of the seven men aboard the hulk four were drowned. The other members of the navigating party were rescued and taken to hospital at Portsmouth. All were suffering from injuries. As a consequence of the Vernon Torpedo School having been removed to the shore the hulk Marlborough had been sold. On Friday afternoon she left Portsmouth for Osea Island, Essex, in tow of the tugs Vanquisher and Warrior. All went well until about 9.30 p.m., when the hulk was off Brighton. The navigating party aboard her then reported that the hulk was showing signs of being unseaworthy and should return to harbour. Thereupon she was headed back, for Portsmouth. Heavy seas were running during the night and when three miles east of the Owers the hulk broke in half, turned turtle, and sank. It was pitch dark at the time; the masters of the two tugs towing her promptly cast off their ropes and turned back, among the floating wreckage, to pick up the navigating party. Three of the latter were rescued, but no sign of the remaining four could be found, although the search continued throughout the early part of Saturday morning. The Marlborough was built at Portsmouth in 1848 as a three-decker sailing ship, but was later converted into an auxiliary screw ship. After serving two commissions in the Mediterranean as flagship she became, in 1877, school-ship for engineer studies at Portsmouth. Later she was one of the hulks that formed the naval depot at Portsmouth until barracks were built there in 1903.


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