HMS Messenger (1830)

HMS Messenger was a wooden paddle ship, built in 1824 by Benjamin Wallis at Blackwall as Duke of York, and renamed Messenger when purchased by the Royal Navy on 20 August 1830 for £12,481. Initially she was rated as a paddle packet. In 1831, she was re-engined and lengthened by 31/2 feet at a cost of £12,560. At around this time she was re-rated as a sloop. She passed Gibraltar in 1830, according to Earl of Beaconsfield's letters en route to Cadiz, Spain. It was reported Benjamin Disraeli was on the boat. She was fitted as a coal depot from May–December 1840, and sold to Henry Castle & Son to be broken up on 22 November 1861.

Her sister ship, George IV, was also purchased by the Royal Navy for a total cost (including Messenger) of £24,977 9s. 4d., and renamed Hermes.

Propulsion
The paddle wheels were 20 feet in diameter and 10 feet wide. After her lengthening, she was re-engined with 2 engines of 100 nominal horse power each. Her cylinders were 52+3/8 in in diameter, with a 5 foot stroke. She obtained a speed of 8.8 mph on trials with 150 ST of fuel loaded. Fuel consumption was about 16 long cwt of coal per hour at an average speed of 5+1/2 knots. Her fuel capacity was 240 LT of coal, and with this load her displacement was 935 LT.

Commissions

 * 1830: under Lieutenant William Frederick Lapidge
 * 20 May 1830: under Lieutenant Benjamin Aplin, as a Falmouth packet
 * May 1834: under John King as a transport
 * 27 July 1840: as a coal depot