HMS Buzzard (1887)



HMS Buzzard was a Nymphe-class composite screw sloop and the fourth ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name.

Design
Developed and constructed for the Royal Navy on a design by William Henry White, Director of Naval Construction, she was launched at Sheerness Dockyard on 10 May 1887.

Foreign service
The Nymphe-class sloops were ideal for service in the far distant outposts of the British Empire, and Buzzard was employed on the North America and West Indies Station.

Harbour training ship
In 1904 she was converted to a drill ship for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at Blackfriars, London, and in 1911 Buzzard relieved HMS President (formerly HMS Gannet (1878) of 1878) as Headquarters ship, being renamed HMS President on 1 April 1911.

Disposal
As President she served until 23 January 1918, when she was lent to the Marine Society. She was finally sold on 6 September 1921.