Persian 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 483 tons burthen.[1] The Acorn class was initially armed with a pair of 32-pounder guns and fourteen 32-pounder carronades. The armament was later changed to four 32-pounder cannon and a dozen 32-pounder carronades. The ships had a crew of 110–30 officers and ratings.[2]
Persian, the second ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy,[3] was ordered on 31 December 1835, laid down in May 1838 at Pembroke Dockyard, Wales, and launched on 7 October 1839.[2] She was completed on 28 April 1840 at Plymouth Dockyard and commissioned on 23 February of that year.[1]