 "Victoria" was ordered on 6 January 1855, laid down on 1 April 1856 at Portsmouth, and launched on 12 November 1859.She cost a total of £150,578 (equivalent to £ in 2010) and had a complement of 1,000.During trials in Stokes Bay on 5 July 1860 "Victoria" reached a top speed of , making her the fastest three decker worldwide, along with the French "Bretagne".