HMS Orlando was the lead ship of the of first-class cruisers built in the yards of Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow and launched on 3 August 1886.
She was commanded by Charles Ramsay Arbuthnot on the Australia Station from 1892 to 1895. In 1899 she was assigned to the China Station,[1] Captain James Henry Thomas Burke in command. During the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, sailors from HMS Orlando formed part of the force led by Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Seymour attempting to relieve the British Legation in Beijing. A replica of a bell captured from the Taku Forts forms part of a memorial to HMS Orlando in Victoria Park, Portsmouth.
In late March 1902 she left Hong Kong for Singapore, arriving there on 6 April.[2] After three weeks, she left Penang in late April, homebound,[3] stopping at Colombo on 5 May,[4] Aden on 14 May,[5] Malta on 28 May,[6] and Gibraltar on 2 June, before arriving at Portsmouth four days later.[7] Captain Burke died at sea on 12 May 1902, during the journey, and was buried at Aden.[8] Commander Philip Howard Colomb was in charge for the remainder of the journey. She paid off at Portsmouth on 25 July, and was placed in the B Division of the Fleet Reserve.[9]
HMS Orlando was sold for scrapping on 11 July 1905 to Thos. W. Ward of Morecambe for £10,000.[1]