HMS Bulldog was a designed by Sir William Symonds, Surveyor of the Navy. Originally she was ordered as a , however, under Admiralty Order of 26 December 1843 she was directed to be built to a new specification.Winfield After commissioning she sailed for the Cape of Good Hope. She then was in the Baltic Sea for the Crimean War. She carried out ocean sounding for the Atlantic telegraph. She was lost while in action with the Haitians in 1865.
Construction She was ordered on 18 March 1841 from Chatham Dockyard though her keel was not laid until 7 July 1844.Lyon Winfield, page 161 She was launched on 2 October 1845. Following her launch she was towed to the East India Dock to have her boilers and machinery fitted.Winfield She was then towed to Chatham and was completed for sea on 7 September 1846 at an initial cost of £58,122Winfield including the hull at £23,342, machinery at £24,892 and fitting at £8,338.A total cost accounting for inflation of approximately £ in today's money.
Commissioned service First commission She was commissioned at Devonport under Commander George Evans Davis, RN on 25 June 1846 for service on the Cape of Good Hope Station.Winfield By December she was back in Devonport.The new Navy List, January 1847, page 217 Commander Astley Cooper Key, RN took command on 4 May 1847 and assigned to the Mediterranean.The Navy List, July 1848, page 120 She returned paying off on 16 April 1850.Winfield
Second commission She commissioned on 23 January 1854 under the command of Commander William King Hall, RN for service in the Baltic Sea during the Crimean War.Winfield She was the flagship of Sir Robert Napier during the bombardment of Bomarsund on 16 August 1854. In February 1855 her new commander was Commander Alexander Crombie Gordon, RN for her return to the Baltic.The Navy List, July 1855, page 141 By December 1856 she had been assigned to particular service.The Navy List, January 1857, page 142 She was paid off into steam reserve on 25 March 1857.Winfield
Third commission On 2 June 1860 she was commissioned under Sir Francis Leopold McClintock for ocean sounding for the Atlantic Telegraph.Winfield Commander Henry Frederick McKillop, RN took command on 3 December 1860. During 1861 she was fitted with Armstrong guns before proceeding to the North America and West Indies Station.WinfieldThe Navy List, January 1862, page 160
Fourth commission In March 1864 she was commissioned for service on the North American and West Indies Station under the command of Captain Charles Wake, RN.Winfield
Loss
She was in action at Cape Haytien with Haitian ships and forts on 23 October 1865. She sank the Haitian ships Valorogue and a schooner before she was run aground then deliberately blown up.Winfield
Notes
Citations
References
The New Navy List, conducted by Joseph Allen, Esq., RN, London: Parker, Furnivall, and Parker, Military Library, Whitehall, MDCCCXLVII The Navy List, published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London