HMS Orion (1854)
HMS Orion (1854)


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NameOrion (1854)Explanation
TypeSecond rate TypeTwo-decker
Launched6 November 1854 Converted to screwon the stocks
HullWooden Length238 feet
PropulsionScrew Men720
Builders measure3281 tons   
Displacement    
Guns91   
Fate1867 Last in commission1861
Class  Class (as screw)Hood
Ships bookADM 135/338   
Career
DateEvent
6 November 1854Launched at Chatham Dockyard.
11 January 1855
- 1 October 1857
Commanded (from commissioning at Sheerness until paying off at Plymouth) by Captain John Elphinstone Erskine, the Baltic during the Russian War then (July 1856) North America and West Indies
3 June 1858
- 2 February 1859
Commanded (from commissioning at Plymouth) by Captain Edwin Clayton Tennyson D'Eyncourt, Channel squadron (from 10 August to 1 November 1858 flagship of Rear-Admiral Charles HoweFremantle)
3 February 1859
- 17 June 1859
Commanded by Captain Wallace Houston, Mediterranean
22 June 1859
- October 1861
Commanded by Captain John James Bartholomew Edward Frere, Mediterranean
(7 October 1861)
- 9 November 1861
Commanded (until paying off) by Acting Captain William Cecil De Vere, Mediterranean
1867Sold to Castle for breaking up at Charlton.
Extracts from the Times newspaper
DateExtract
Ma 26 February 1855As far as can be ascertained at present, the fleet about to be despatched to the Baltic will be thus composed:—
Commander-in-Chief.— Rear-Admiral of the Blue, the Hon. Richard Saundars Dundas, C.B.
Second in Command.— Rear-Admiralof the Blue, Michael Seymour.
Third in Command.— Rear-Admiral of the Blue, Robert Lambert Baynes, C.B.
Captain of the Fleet.— The Hon. F.T. Pelham.
 GunsHorse-power
Duke of Wellington (flag)131700
Royal George, Captain Codrington, C.B. 102400
Exmouth (flag)91400
James Watt, Captain Georce Elliot91600
Orion, Captain Erskine91600
Caesar, Captain Robb91400
Nile, Captain Mundy91500
Majestic, Captain J. Hope, C.B.81400
Cressy, Captain Warren81400
Colossus, Captain Robinson81400
Sanspareil, Captain Heath70350
Blenheim, Captain W.H. Hall60450
Hogue, Captain Ramsay60450
Ajax, Captain Warden60450
Edinburgh, Captain Hewlett60450
Russell, Captain Scott60200
Hawke, Captain Erasmus Ommanney60200
Cornwallis, Captain Wellesley60200
Pembroke, Captain G.H. Seymour60200
Hastings, Captain Caffin60200
Imperieuse, Captain Watson, C.B.51360
Euryalus, Captain Ramsay51400
Arrogant, Cantain Yelverton47360
Amphion, Captain A.C. Key34300
Horatio, Captain Cochrane24250
Cossack, Captain Fanshawe212ö0
Pylades, Captain D'Eyncourt21250
Esk, Captain T.F. Birch21250
Tartar, Captain Dunlop21250
Archer, Captain Heathcote17200
Retribution, Captain Fisher28400
Magicienne, Captain Tatham16400
Odin, Captain Willcox16560
Sampson, Captain Brock6467
Dragon, Captain Stewart6560
Bulldog, Captain W.K. Hall6500
Penelope, Captain Sir W. Wiseman18650
Lightning, Captain B.J. Sulivan3100
Vulture, Captain Glasse 6470
Desperate, Commander White8400
Conflict, Commander Cumming 8400
Cruizer Commander the Hon. G. Douglas1460
Harier, Commander Story14160
Ariel, Commander Luce960
Falcon, Commander Pullen17100
Basilisk, Commander the Hon. F. Egerton6400
Rosamond, Commander Crofton6286
Driver, Commander Rice6280
Janus, Lieutenaut Kane4220
Locust, Lieutenant -3180
Otter, Lientenant W.A.J. Heath3120
Porcupine, Lieutenant Jackson3132
Zephyr, Lieutenant Bond3100
Recruit, Lientenant J.F. Day4160
Weser, Lieatenant Commerell4160
Vulture, Captain Glasse 6470
Floating Batteries
Ætna16Thunder16
Glatton16Trusty16
Meteor16 
Mortar Vessels
Blazer1Manly1
Firm1Mastiff1
Hardy1Porcupine 1
Havock1Surly1
Steam Gunboats
Gleaner3Hind2
Pelter3Jackdaw2
Pincher3Jasper2
Ruby3Jack2
Teazer3Magpie2
Badger3Redwing2
Snapper3Skylark2
Biter2Snap2
Boxer2Starling2
Clinker2Stork2
Cracker2Swinger2
Dapper2Thistle2
Fancy2Weasel2
Grinder2Pigmy2
The Belleisle, 24, Commander Hosken, hospital ship.
The Æolus, 42, ammunition magazine.
The Perseverance, storeship.
The Volcano, floating engineers' factory, Master-Commander Dyer.
Rear-Admiral Michael Seymour has hoisted his flag (pro tem.) as second in command of the Baltic Fleet on board the Nile, 91, Captain Mundy, at Plymouth. Mr. Dyer, secretary at the Devonport dockyard, goes to sea with Admiral Seymour as secretary.
Fr 6 April 1855The ships left at Spithead after the departure of the main body of the Baltic expedition shifted berths yesterday under sail, and formed two lines, as ordered, thus:—
Falcon, 14 (screw)Neptune, 120
Ariel, 9 (screw)Calcutta, 84
Cruiser, 16 (screw)Orion, 91 (screw)
Centaur, 6 (paddle)St. George, 120
Pylades 21 (screw)Powerful, 84

The Geyser, 6, paddle, was ordered to take officers and men for the Baltic fleet in the Downs, and left last evening. The Driver, 6, paddle, will leave Spithead to-morrow, and will then also take supernumeraries to join the larger ships. The Falcon returned to Spithead on Wednesday night from the Channel. Rear-Admiral Baynes remains at Portsmouth to take out the third division; but his flagship, the Retribution, will not be out of the hands of the engineer department until the 10th, and then the shipwrights will not have done with her. She remains in the steam basin, with Admiral Baynes's flag at her mizen, and is being proceeded with as fast as possible. The Odin, 16, paddle frigate, is also in the steam basin, having new covers to her cylinders fitted, her old ones not being strong enough to contain the pressure of the additional power of steam generated by her new boilers; she will be refitted in this respect by the 10th. The Ruby, Pelter, and Grinder gunboats are all in the hands of the dockyard artificers; the latter, which came up from Cowes on Monday from the shipbuilding yard of Messrs. Robert White, is in dock, being fitted out for the fleet. The Pelter is having moveable iron plates of a quarter of an inch thickness fitted on to the gunwale, and projecting above the bulwarks about 18 inches, for, the protection of her crew from rifle bullets from without, when in close proximity with the enemy, and also the better to enable those onboard to shield themselves while at rifle firing themselves. This vessel needed some new tubes for her boilers, but those sent to replace the defective ones are said to be four inches too short for her! The Hastings, 60, new screw blockship, went out of harbour yesterday again to make a trial of her steaming properties at the measured mile. She went out with most of her weights on board, and drawing 22 feet. The mean of four runs showed an average speed realized of 6·7 knots — a result far beyond the most sanguine expectations of the scientific on board and ashore; revolution of engines, 78; and pressure of steam in the boilers, 55lb. The inexperience of the stokers alone prevented a better mean speed being realized, and there is little doubt that greater speed will be ultimately obtained. She victuals now 279 out of her intended complement of 600. The Ruby gunboat was undocked yesterday. The Bellerophon, 78, landed her invalids yesterday morning at the dockyard jetty, and they were conveyed to the invalid depôt by railway. The ship is now returning stores, preparatory to being put out of commission. Her officers will be paid off, but the crew will be paid down, and after a fortnight’s leave draughted for service in the Baltic. None of her bulkheads or internal fittings are to be removed.
We learn by electric telegraph from Deal that the Baltic fleet at anchor in the Downs yesterday comprised the following vessels:—The Duke of Wellington, 131, Royal George, 101, Nile, 91, James Watt, 91, Caesar, 91, Exmouth, 91, Majestic, 81, Cressy, 81, Colossus, 81, Hogue, 60, Blenheim, 60, Edinburgh. 60, Vulture, 6, Dragon, 6, Gorgon, 6, Basilisk, 6, Bulldog. 6. The Ajax, 60, was coming in. The weather being very fine visitors were flocking in to Deal by every train.
Ma 7 June 1858COMMAND OF THE Channel squadron. - There is now, we believe, no doubt as to the selection of Rear-Admiral the Hon. Sir Henry Keppel as the Commander-in-Chief of the Channel squadron. Great fears were entertained at one time that the command would be given to a worn-out officer, whoso unpopularity with smart young seamen is well known, and whose day is, in fact, passed; and it is no small relief, therefore, to learn that one of the most vigorous and at the same time justly popular admirals in the service is the officer chosen. If men understand that they are to be kept at one incessant routine of drill and gunnery, and gunnery and drill, from Monday morning till Saturday night, it requires no very intimate knowledge of sailors to predict that the ships will, like the Marlborough, remain for months with only the marines and idlers on board. Had the Marlborough been blessed with a popular captain, there is no knowing what effect it might have had upon the unemployed sailors. It is strange how small a matter will turn the current of popularity; but the fact of a ship's remaining half-manned for three or four months is considered tantamount to an admission that there is something wrong about the ship or captain. It will he seen how long the Orion, the ship destined to bear Sir Henry Keppel's flag, takes in manning. If she is not manned offhand we shall be greatly surprised, and shall be inclined to accept it as an ill omen. Sir Henry is well known to the best description of men we have in the service. He is known as one full of fight, and he humours "Jack's" predilections by despising and denouncing humbug. He will take care to have the squadron which may be placed under his orders in good fighting condition, and it will not be his fault if the crews of the ships do not, in due coarse, become seamen as well as gunners. -United Service Gazette.
Tu 10 August 1858Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Howe Fremantle, K.C.B., Commander-in-Chief of the Channel fleet, shifted his flag from the Renown, 91, Captain Forbes, to the Orion, 91, Captain D'Eyncourt. at Spithead, yesterday.
Th 26 August 1858The Orion, 91, screw, Captain Edwin C.T. D'Eyncourt, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Howe Freemantle, Commander-in-Chief of the Channel squadron; the Caesar, 91, screw, Captain Charles Frederick; the Renown, 91, screw, Captain Arthur Forbes; the Brunswick, 80, screw, Captain Erasmus Ommanney; and the Racoon, 21, screw, Captain James A. Paynter, sailed from Spithead yesterday for a short cruise in the Channel, the first movement of the Channel fleet.
We 1 September 1858The Channel squadron, comprising the Orion, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Fremantle, the Brunswick, the Renown, the Caesar, and the Racoon, arrived in Plymouth Sound yesterday (Tuesday) evening.
Ma 6 September 1858In consequence of the dirty weather from the southward and westward, Admiral Fremantle's squadron, consisting of the Orion, Caesar, Brunswick, Renown, and Racoon, did not sail from Plymouth Sound for Ireland on Saturday Preparations are made for their departure to-day (Monday).
The Diadem, 32, screw frigate, Captain W. Moorsom, C.B., sailed from Spithead yesterday forenoon for Plymouth to join the Channel squadron. She is expected to be away about a month, and on her return is to come into harbour to be fitted with her proper masts. Those she has at present are only jury masts.
The Victor Emmanuel, 91, screw, Captain James Willcox, is expected to sail from Spithead to-morrow to join the Channel squadron.
Ma 4 October 1858Admiral Fremantle's squadron hove in sight, near the Eddystone, at 9 o'clock yesterday (Sunday) morning. Wind, west south west; strong breeze. At 11 o'clock they were approaching Plymouth Sound in two divisions. The squadron includes the Renown, 91, Captain A. Forbes; the Victor Emmanuel, 91, Captain J. Wilcox; the Orion, 91, Captain D'Eyncourt; the Caesar, 90, Captain C. Frederick; the Brunswick, 81, Captain E. Ommanney; the Euryalus, 51, Captain J.W. Tarleton; the Diadem, 32, Captain W. Moorsom; and the Racoon, 22, Captain J.A. Paynter.
Ma 29 November 1858The Channel squadron, consisting of the Royal Albert, Renown, Orion, and Brunswick, weighed anchor on Saturday morning, and steamed out of Bantry Bay for Cork; on obtaining an offing the squadron at noon of the same day let off their steam, and raised their propellers, and proceeded under canvass, the Renown leading the weather line, and followed by the Orion, and the Brunswick leading the lee line, followed by the Royal Albert. The wind during the whole time the squadron was at sea was from south to south-east blowing fresh and occasionally increasing to a gale. At daylight of the 24th the squadron had separated owing to a dense November fog. The vessels arrived at Queenstown in the following order, Brunswick and Renown on the afternoon of the 24th and Royal Albert at 1 p.m. on the 25th. The Orion is outside of the harbour.
Ma 3 January 1859The annual return of the names, number of guns, and tonnage of the whole of the vessels in the navy was published on Saturday, from which it appeals that the British navy at the commencement of the present year, consists of 523 vessels, including screw steamers of every description, exclusive of which there are 167 gunboats. Of the number of vessels composing the navy no less than 176 are in commission, and doing duty in every part of the globe. The vessels in commission are distributed as follow:- 32 line-of-battle ships, frigates, and smaller vessels are attached to the East Indies and China station; 25 on the coast of Africa; 16 in the Mediterranean; 15 on the Pacific and on the Australia station; 15 on the North America and West India station; 7 on the south-east coast of America, and 5 at the Cape of Good Hope. The remaining 61 vessels, are employed on particular service, or attached as guardships to the principal ports in Great Britain and Ireland, including the Channel squadron, which is composed of the following screw steamers:- The Royal Albert, 121, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir C.H. Fremantle, K.C.B.; the Orion, 91, Captain E.C.T. D'Eyncourt; the Renown,. 91, Captain, A. Forbes; the Victor Emmanuel, 91, Captain J. Willcox; the Brunswick, 80, Captain E. Ommanney; and the Racoon, 22, Captain J.A. Paynter.
Fr 29 April 1859THE CHANNEL FLEET.- BEREHAVEN, April 23.-The ships of the Channel fleet that had been staying here for some months left to-day. They comprised the Royal Albert, the Renown, the Brunswick, the St. Jean d'Acre, and the Racoon. The Victor Emanuel and the Orion came in here with them, but early in March they were ordered to Tangier. It is said that these two vessels are to join the Channel fleet again, as also the Algiers and the James Watt, line-of-battle ships, and the Liffey, the Mersey, and the Doris, frigates. The Caesar and the Diadem are also returning from the West Indies to join, and the Euryalus from the Mediterranean. During their stay here the Marines and Naval Brigades were exercised on shore every week, as also in the boats. The Admiral, Sir Charles Freemantle, is most deservedly popular with all classes.- Cork Reporter.
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.
Ma 30 July 1860The screw steamship Orion, 91, Capt. T.B. Frere, has received a quantity of stores and provisions for the Channel fleet
Fr 28 December 1860Her Majesty’s screw corvette Scylla, Commander R. Lambert, and screw frigate Amphion, Capt. T. Cochrane, left Valetta on the 15th inst. — the former for the Piraeus and the Levant, and the latter for Sicily. Her Majesty’s line-of-battle ship Orion, Capt. J. Frere, left on the 20th Inst. for Corfu, a vessel from that island coming down there to take her place. The Victor Emmanuel, Capt. W. Clifford, C.B., is still there under repair, which will take a long time to complete. Besides the Hibernia recelvlng-shlp, flag of Rear-Admiral Codrington, there were only three British men-of-war at Malta, the Victor Emmanuel, the Melpomene, and the Assurance gunboat, which last reached there on the 22d of December from Corfu with despatches and a mail.
A letter from Corfu of the 18th inst. says,—
"The Assurance gunboat will leave to-morrow with a mail for Malta. The gunboat Foxhound arrived yesterday from Malta, and is still in harbour. The Caesar line-of-battle ship came into port on the night of the 14th inst.; and a liner, I believe the James Watt, left for Malta or Naples on the following morning. This morning the Mars and London sailed out of the channel for a cruise, and as I am writing the Marlborough, which had returned from a cruise of two days, has hoisted sail, and is beating about the port. I expect all the ships that are here at present will leave to-day; but it is not likely that Admiral Martin will allow the fleet to spend their Christmas at sea.”


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