Name HMS Calliope Builder Sheerness Dockyard Commissioned 10 October 1837 Launched 5 October 1837 | Ordered 29 October 1830 Laid down January 1831 Construction started January 1831 | |
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Cost £17,882 including fitting | ||
HMS Calliope was a 28-gun sixth rate launched in October 1837 and broken up in November 1883.
Career
During the period 1841-42 she served at Canton with Sir William Parker's ships in the First Anglo-Chinese War (1839–42), known popularly as the First Opium War.
Calliope under Captain Edward Stanley, left Plymouth, England on 18 August 1845, sailing for Hobart, Australia, via Madeira and the Cape of Good Hope. Upon arrival at Hobart the ship was sent to New Zealand, where she was station for 2½ years. The ship's Royal Marines saw action in the Flagstaff War in the north of New Zealand. A Royal Marine was killed at the siege of Ruapekapeka Pā and two seamen were killed in the Hutt Valley Campaign. From late February 1846 until October 1847 Calliope operated mainly between Wellington, Whanganui and Nelson.
Sir James Everard Home was appointed captain of the Calliope 28 November 1850 and died in Sydney on 2 November 1853. A memorial to him was placed in St James' Church. Captain Gennys of H.M.S. Fantome took command as acting captain. Captain Fitzgerald was appointed to take over command.
The ship was converted to a floating chapel in 1855 and was broken up in 1883.