HMS Beagle launched

Background. HMS Beagle was a Cherokee-class 10-gun brig-sloop of the Royal Navy, part of a class comprising more than 100 ships. The vessel's construction was initiated at a cost of £7,803. Working drawings for the ship were issued to the Woolwich Dockyard in February 1817 and amended in July 1817 to increase the height of the bulwarks, varying from 6 inches at the stem to 4 inches at the stern.

Construction. The keel for HMS Beagle was laid in June 1818. The construction process followed the amended working drawings issued to the Woolwich Dockyard, which specified modifications to the bulwark heights. The total cost of constructing the vessel was £7,803, reflecting the expenses associated with building this specific Cherokee-class brig-sloop.

Launch. HMS Beagle was launched on 11 May 1820 from the Woolwich Dockyard on the River Thames. This event marked the completion of the vessel's construction phase. The launch date is explicitly recorded in historical sources, confirming the ship's entry into service following the laying of its keel in 1818.

Early Service. Later reports indicate that HMS Beagle participated in celebrations for the coronation of George IV. During these events, the ship passed under the old London Bridge. It was recorded as the first rigged man-of-war to be afloat upriver of the bridge, highlighting its early operational history.