Story
This frigate (4th rate) was built in 1846 by H.M. Dockyard (Pembroke).
Historical Notes
(The image is John Turnstall Haverfield's painting of Constance in Esquimalt Harbour 1848.) Her figurehead portrayed the daughter of Sir James Graham (First Lord of the Admiralty).
In 1846 this vessel was assigned to the Pacific Station.
In 1848 this vessel was the first major RN warship to enter Esquimalt Harbour (under Captain G.W.C. Courtenay RN) and served on the Pacific Station 1846-1849. On her return to the UK this vessel went into reserve until 1860. This vessel was taken to the North American and West Indies Station employed putting down a rebellion in Jamaica. This vessel worked to counter the Fenian threat in Canada.
In 1876 this vessel was broken up at Devonport UK.
Owners & Masters
In 1846-1875 she was owned by the Royal Navy.
Masters
Captain Sir Baldwin Walker RN (1846); Captain G.W.C. Courtenay RN (1846); Captain H.T. Burgoyne VC RN (1868);
Armament
Upper deck: 28 x 32pdrs (10 x 8in/68pdr shell guns later replaced 10 x 32pdrs); Quarter deck: 14 x 32pdrs; Forecastle: 8 x 32pdrs
Named Features
Constance Cove (BC), Constance Bank (BC); Constance Avenue (Esquimalt BC);
Rebuilds
In 1860 she was converted to a screw frigate. She was cut in half and 72' inserted amidships increasing tonnage to 3213.
Repower
She was engined in 1860 at Chatham UK with Randolph & Elder compound steam engines.
References
- Walbran, Captain John T. (1909)
- Brock, P.W. & Basil Greenhill (1973)
- Robinson, Sherri K. (1995)
- J.J. Colledge and Ben Warlow (2010) Ships of the Royal Navy. Casemate Oxford UK
- en.wikipedia.org ↗
