Liverpool was ordered on 31 March 1855, but building did not commence until 14 November 1859 and she was launched at Devonport Dockyard on 30 October 1860, in the same year that the famous iron-hulled was launched.
During her first commission, she served in the North America and West Indies Stations and later the Channel Squadron. In June 1864, she ran aground off Santo Domingo. She was refloated and ordered back to England for repairs.[1] She was placed in "Steam Reserve" at Devonport in August 1867.
Like previous ships of the same name, she was re-commissioned on 8 May 1869 as flagship of the Special Flying Squadron, under Rear Admiral Geoffrey Hornby. The squadron's mission was an early form of "flag waving" to display British naval power and prowess across the world. The "Flying Squadron" consisted of HM ships,,, Liverpool,, and . The squadron left Portsmouth on 18 July 1869, circumnavigated the globe, and returned in November 1870, having sailed 53,000 miles. Liverpool was paid off into reserve in December of the year she returned. She was subsequently declared obsolete in 1872 and was sold for breaking up on 26 June 1875.