HMS Marlborough (1855)

HMS Marlborough was a first-rate three-decker 131 gun screw ship built for the Royal Navy in 1855. She was begun as a sailing ship of the line (with her sister ships HMS Duke of Wellington, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Royal Sovereign), but was completed to a modified design and converted to steam on the stocks.

She served as flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet from 1858-64 (with the flag of Vice-Admiral William Fanshawe Martin, captain William Houston Stewart, from 3 May 1860 to 20 April 1863; and of Vice-Admiral Robert Smart, Captain Charles Fellowes, from 1863). In 1864 she was replaced as flagship by Victoria. She sailed back to Portsmouth to serve as a receiving ship (e.g. for the Steam Reserve in c.1890, as tender to HMS Asia (1824)) and as a training ship for engineers (c. December 1878). Whilst at Portsmouth, she was down-graded in rating to a 98 gun ship (in c. 1870).

For a time her Commander was Sir Edward Dolman Scott (1826–1905), 6th Baronet Scott of Great Barr.

In 1904 Marlborough was moved to Portchester Creek and renamed Vernon II, becoming an accommodation hulk to the shore establishment HMS Vernon. (Vernon I was the joint name for the establishment's two existing hulks, HMS Ariadne and HMS Actaeon - all three hulks were joined together by bridges.)

Marlborough was sold to A. Butcher for breaking up in October 1924, but capsized and sank on 28 November 1924 off Selsey whilst being towed to the breakers at Osea Island, with the loss of four men.