She was designed by Sir
Robert Seppings. She was launched in May 1825 at a truly massive cost of £64,000. However, her fitting out (with guns etc.) was not completed until November 1841. Her first "true commander" (i.e. other than being moved from dock to dock) was Captain Charles Sullivan who sailed her to the
Mediterranean. On 29 November 1842,
Formidable ran aground off the mouth of the
Llobregat on the coast of
Spain. She was refloated on 2 December 1842 with the aid of two French
steamships. In April 1844 command transferred to Captain
George Frederick Rich. In 1869
Formidable became a training ship, at the
National Nautical School in
Portishead, and she was sold out of the navy in 1906 ==Archives==