Completed in 1878, Gannet is the last surviving archetypal Victorian Navy 'Gunboat.' Classed as a Sloop and armed with two 7 inch guns and four 64 pounders, she was deployed overseas to police the trade routes that served the British Empire.
Serving in an operational role until 1895, Gannet was converted into a drill ship in 1902 and served as the headquarters ship of the Royal Naval Reserve with the name HMS President. From 1914 to 1968 she served as the dormitory ship for a boys pre-sea training school this time with the name TS Mecury. In 1971 she was transferred to The Maritime Trust and was chartered by The Historic Dockyard Chatham in 1987 when a restoration programme was started. This resulted in Gannet being restored to her 1886 appearance, the year she saw her first and only action being part of the defence of the port of Suakin
In 1994 formal ownership of Gannet transferred to the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust where she resides, in No 4 Dry-dock - albeit afloat!