Grecian had a length at the gundeck of 105feet and 82feet at the keel. She had a beam of 33feet, a draught of 11feet and a depth of hold of 14feet. The ship's tonnage was 484 tons burthen.[1] Grecian was armed with sixteen 32-pounder carronades. The Acorn class had a crew of 110–30 officers and ratings.[2]
Grecian, the third ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy,[3] was ordered on 31 December 1835, laid down in July 1837 at Pembroke Dockyard, Wales, and launched on 24 April 1838.[2] She was completed on 10 December 1838 at Plymouth Dockyard and commissioned on 19 September of that year.[1]