Palmer Bros. & Co., of Jarrow-on-Tyne, England built the ENGLAND for the National Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. With a gross tonnage of 3,308 and measuring 375.5 x 42.5 ft., the ship was constructed of iron and had one funnel, three masts, single-screw propulsion and a service speed of ten knots. Launched on 24 June 1865, the ENGLAND began her maiden voyage on 7 February 1866, sailing from Liverpool to Queenstown and New York with accommodation for 80 first-class and 800 third-class passengers. In the spring of 1866, the ENGLAND was bound for New York via Queenstown, Ireland from Liverpool, England with 1202 passengers.(Numbers vary) Hundreds died from an outbreak of cholera. The ship was quarantined off McNab's Island near Halifax, Nova Scotia before arriving at New York, where it remained in quarantine along with another National Line ship, THE VIRGINA. The ENGLAND’s passenger service was interrupted for a year beginning in the summer of 1867, when she, along with another National Line ship, THE QUEEN, was requisitioned by the British Government to be used as a transport during the Abyssinian Expedition. King Theodore of Abyssinia had imprisoned several foreign officials, including Captain Cameron, the British Consul, in November 1864. After three years of unsuccessful negotiations, Queen Victoria declared war, which officially ended on 17th April 1868. The ENGLAND resumed passenger service for the National Line and made regular transatlantic crossings for nearly three decades. She was refitted 1873-4 and was lengthened to 437.9 feet, had her engines compounded and became 4898 tons as shown on the picture. She resumed the Liverpool - Queenstown - New York service on August 26th 1874, and stayed on this run until making her last voyage on January 2nd 1891 from Liverpool to New York. On March 1st 1891 she commenced running from London - New York until making her last trip on January 10th 1896. She was sold in 1896 and scrapped In Italy.

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