Built as a teak hulled composite screw sloop by Devonport Drydock for the Royal Navy.
08 March 1875 keel laid down.
26 April 1877 launched as HMS PELICAN. Her launch was delayed because of the disagreement in manufacturing machinery. She was consequently fitted with engines intended for her sister ship CORMORANT building at Chatham. She was the 13th ship in the Royal Navy that carried this name.
Displacement 1.130 tons, dim. 51.86 (bpp) x 10.97 x 4.84m.
Powered by a 2-cyl. horizontal compound steam engine, manufactured by Humphrys, Tennant & Co., 1,056 ihp, single shaft, speed 12.3 knots.
Bunker capacity 150 tons of coal, range by a speed of 10 knots, 1.480 mile.
Armament 2 – 7 inch and 4 – 64pdr. guns.
Barque rigged. Fitted out with a clipper bow.
Crew 140.
29 November 1877 completed.
After completing stationed in the Pacific until 1882.
From 1882 till 1883 refitted at Devonport and she was rearmed with 2 – 6 inch at the quarter deck broadside ports, 4 – 5 inch at the waist broadside ports and 2 – 5 inch chase guns.
1884 till 1888 again stationed in the Pacific.
18 October 1886 she visited Pitcairn Island with on board John Tay, who introduced the 108 islanders to the Seventh Day Adventist faith. Given permission by the Pitcairners to reside and present the teachings of the Seventh Day Adventists, he stayed five weeks. At the request of the islanders Tay promised to return with an ordained minister of the faith to baptise those wishing to become members of the Church.
19 November 1889 re-commissioned for the West India Station, commissioning at Bermuda in 1892 and 1896.
31 January 1899 decommissioned in Devonport.
22 January 1901 sold to the Hudson Bay Company as a supply ship.
Tonnage the given as 632 grt, 549 under deck and 290 net.
Signal letter SJRF.
Port of registry London.
Used under command of Capt. A. Gray as supply ship along the coast of northern Canada east coast.
August 1918 in action against a German submarine, which is believed that she damaged the submarine by gunfire.
After World War I became a harbour hulk in North Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Spring 1953 the hulk was scuttled, with full naval honours, off North Sydney harbour.
Pitcairn Island 2010 $2 sg?, scott?
Source: Various web-sites. Devonport built warships since 1860 by K.V. Burns. The Sail and Steam Navy List by Lyon and Winfield.