Built as a wooden paddle steamer by Fletcher, Son and Fearnall, at Poplar, U.K. for Richard Bourne and others at Dublin.
24 Sept. 1836 launched under the name BRAGANZA, named after the Royal house of Portugal from 1640-1910.
Tonnage 688 gross, 355 net. Dim. 156.7 x 24.5 x 18.5ft.
Powered by two cylinder side-lever engines, manufactured by Scott, Sinclair and Co. Greenock, 264 ihp.
Building cost £21.100
03 May 1837 sailed out for her maiden voyage.
She was first used in the Falmouth Packets route between Falmouth to Gibraltar.
June 1838 registered at London.
Jan 1841, registered under the ownership of the P&O.
1844 Lengthened and fitted with new boilers by White at Cowes at a cost of £15.000.
Tonnage increased to 856 gross, 571 net. Dim. 188.4 x 24.8 x 18.5ft.
I believe she sailed then from the U.K to Singapore via the Cape of Good Hope. In 1845 the Eastern route of the P&O was opened between Singapore and Hong Kong by two vessels the LADY MARY WOOD and the BRAGANZA.
1852 Sold to shipbreakers at Bombay and the materials reported sold 25 Oct. 1852 for scrap.
Most probably her rigging was altered during the lengthening in 1844.
Singapore 1980 $5 sg376, scott?
Niger 2000 150F sg?, scott? (the hovercraft is given as WESTLAND but there is not a WESTLAND hovercraft, I think one of the Mountbatten class is depct.)
Source: a Google search gives many websites with letters carried by her from or to England from Spain and Portugal. P&O a Fleet History by the World Ship Society. She is also mentioned in the Falmouth Packet website. Powered Ships the Beginnings by Richard Armstrong.