Volcano was the sixth named vessel since it was used for an 8-gun Fireship, purchased 1778, commissioned 31 July 1778 and sold 7 May 1781.[1]
Ordered on 19 November 1834 from Portsmouth Dockyard, she was laid down in July 1835. She was launched on 30 June 1836.[2] She was completed for sea at Woolwich between 8 October 1836 and 17 January 1837 at a cost of £27,884[3] including £17,011 for her hull and £8,875 for her machinery.[4]
She was commissioned in December 1836 under the command of Lieutenant William M'Uwaine, RN for service on the Mediterranean packet service.[5] On 14 May 1838 Lieutenant Joseph West, RN took command. In 1840 she was assigned to the North America and West Indies packet service.[6] She returned to Home Waters paying off on 16 March 1841.[7]
She was recommissioned seven days later still under Lieutenant West. On 2 December 1841 Lieutenant Craven John Featherstone, RN took command.[8] On 6 April 1844 Lieutenant Edward Charles Miller, RN took command. Lieutenant Miller died on 29 September 1845 and Lieutenant John Hay Craig, RN took command on 1 October for service in the Mediterranean.[9] she returned tp Home Waters paying off on 16 February 1849. She was repaired and fitted for sea at Woolwich then Deptford for £9,628.[10]
She was commissioned on 6 December 1850 under Commander William Thomas Rivers, RN at Devonport for the West Coast of Africa.[11] On 21 April 1851 Commander Robert Coote, RN took command.[12] She was at Lagos on 25 November 1851. She returned to Home Waters and paid off at Woolwich on 30 January 1854.[13] At Woolwich Dockyard she was fitted as a depot ship, also known as an Engineer's Workshop, Steam Smithery or Floating Factory.[14] The conversion cost £6,054[15] plus another £2,565.[16]
She was commissioned under Robert Dyer, Master for service in the Baltic during the Russian War on 16 June 1854.[17] On 27 February she was under the command of James H. Ryan, Second Master. At the end of the Russian war she was paid off in 1856.[18] She underwent repairs and a refit at Portsmouth including new boilers, Her hull was recoppered, the fore part of the ship was rebuilt and she was given a brig sailing rig completing in 1857.[19]
She was commissioned on 17 March 1857 under John M Hockly, Master for the East Indies and China.[20] She was at Canton and Hong Kong between 1857 and 1859. She returned to Home Waters paying off at Portsmouth into the Steam Reserve on 25 May 1859.[21]
HMS Volcano was reduced to Harbour Service in 1862. She remained in Portsmouth until sold to Sidney Castle & Son in November 1894 for breaking at Charlton.[22]