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| Name | Shearwater (1861) | Explanation | |
| Type | Sloop | ||
| Launched | 17 October 1861 | ||
| Hull | Wooden | Length | 160 feet |
| Propulsion | Screw | Men | 140 |
| Builders measure | 669 tons | ||
| Displacement | 811 tons | ||
| Guns | 11 | ||
| Fate | 1877 | Last in commission | 1875 |
| Class | Rosario | ||
| Ships book | |||
| Career | |||
| Date | Event | ||
| 17 October 1861 | Launched at Pembroke Dockyard. | ||
| 6 December 1862 - 11 September 1866 | Commanded (from commissioning at Plymouth) by Commander Robert Gordon Douglas, Pacific | ||
| 14 April 1866 - 31 January 1868 | Commanded (until paying off at Woolwich) by Commander Thomas Edward Smith, Pacific | ||
| 20 July 1871 - 13 May 1872 | Commanded (from commissioning at Sheerness) by Captain George Strong Nares, Mediterranean (surveying) | ||
| May 1872 - 4 August 1875 | Commanded (until paying off at Sheerness) by Commander William James Lloyd Wharton, Mediterranean, then east coast of Africa (surveying) | ||
| 8 February 1877 | Breaking up completed at Sheerness. | ||
| Extracts from the Times newspaper | |||
| Date | Extract | ||
| Sa 12 November 1864 | The following is the list of the vessels of the Royal navy which will be armed, and are now being armed, with the new description of 300-pounder and other guns in course of issue. The figures after each vessel specify the number of guns of the description mentioned she will carry. To mount the 12-ton 300-pounders:- Bellerophon, 10; Royal Sovereign, 5; Minotaur, 4; Scorpion, 4; Wiveren, 4; Prince Albert, 4; Agincourt, 4; and Northumberland, 4. To be armed with the 6½-ton guns:- The Achilles, 20; Black Prince, 20; Warrior, 20; Lord Warden, 20; Lord Clyde, 20; Royal Oak, 20; Prince Consort, 20; Royal Alfred, 20; Caledonia, 20; Ocean, 20; Minotaur, 18 ; Agincourt, 18; Valiant, 16; Zealous, 16; Hector, 16; Defence, 10; Resistance, 10; Endymion, 6; Mersey, 4; Orlando, 4, Pallas, 4; Favourite, 4; Research, 4; Enterprise, 4; Amazon, 2; Viper, 2; and Vixen, 2. To mount the 64-pounder muzzle-loader:- The Bristol, 12; Melpomene, 12; Liverpool, 12; Severn, 12; Arethusa, 12; Phoebe, 12;. Shannon, 12; Octavia, 12; Constance, 12; Sutlej, 12; Undaunted, 12; Impérieuse, 12; Aurora, 12; Leander, 12; Bacchante, 12; Emerald, 12; Phaeton, 12: Narcissus, 12; Forte, 12; Euryalus, 12; Topaz, 12; Newcastle, 12; Liffey, 12; Immortalité, 12; Glasgow, 12; Clio, 8, North Star, 8 [laid down 1860, cancelled 1865]; Racoon, 8; Challenge[r], 8; and Menai, 8 [laid down 1860, cancelled 1864]. The following will be supplied with the 64-pounder breech-loaders:- The Scout, 8; Rattlesnake, 8; Cadmus, 8; Scylla, 8; Barossa, 8; Jason, 8; Charybdis, 8; Wolverine, 8; Pylades, 8; Orestes, 8; Pearl, 8; Pelorus, 8; Satellite, 8; Acheron, 4 [laid down 1861, cancelled 1863]; Shearwater, 4; Valorous, 4; Furious, 4; Bittern, 4 [laid down 1861, cancelled 1863]; Magicienne, 4; and Columbine, 4. A supply of the 6½-ton smooth-bore 100-pounder wrought iron guns has already been received at Chatham, and it is understood that the first supply of the 300-pounder rifled 12-ton Armstrong gun may shortly be expected at the Ordnance wharf. | ||
| Sa 3 April 1875 | During the first three months of the year the following ships have been placed in commission:—The Hercules, Capt. Codrington; the Nymphe, Capt. Suttie; the Undaunted, Capt. Campbell; and the Warrior, Capt. White. The Caledonia, the Egmont, the Fawn, and the Princess Charlotte have been paid off. The following are ordered home:— The Avon, the Boxer, the Cameleon, the Elk, the Iron Duke, the Reindeer, the Rosario, the Scout, the Shearwater, and the Volage. | ||
| Fr 9 April 1875 | The following vessels are under orders to return home from their respective stations, to be paid out of commission:- The Avon, 4, double screw composita gun-vessel, Commander A.T. Powlett, from China. This vessel was re-commissioned on that station on the 18th of July, 1871, when a fresh crew was sent out from England. The Blanche, 6, steamship, Capt. C.H. Simpson, from Australia. This vessel has also served two commissions, having been re-commissioned on the Australian station on the 12th of October, 1871, by a fresh crew sent out for that purpose from England. The Boxer, 4, double screw composite gun vessel, Lieut-Commanding William Collins, from the Pacific. This vessel has, like the two previous ones, served two commissions, having been re-commissioned on the 6th of October, 1872. The Cameleon, 7, steamship, Commander A.J. Kennedy, from the Pacific. The Dido, 8, steamship, Capt. W.C. Chapman, from Australia, The Elk, 4, double-screw composite gun-vessel, Commander Robert H. Harris, from China. The Iron Duke, 14, double-screw iron armour-plated ship, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Sir C.F.A. Shadwell, K.C.B., Capt. William Arthur, from China. The Reindeer, 7, steam sloop, Commander C.V. Anson, from the Pacific. The Rosario, 3, steam sloop, Commander A.E. Dupuis, from Australia. The Scout, 17, corvette, Capt. R.P. Cator, from the Pacific. The Shearwater, 4, surveying vessel, Commander W.J.L. Wharton, from the East Coast of Africa. The Spartan, 8, steam sloop, Capt. Richard Carter, from North America and West Indies. The Swiftsure, 14, iron armour-plated ship, Capt. J.K.E. Baird, temporary flagship of Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir. J.R. Drummond, K.C.B., from the Mediterranean. The Volage, 18, iron steam corvette, cased with wood, Capt. Henry Fairfax, employed on special service. | ||
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