HMS Bacchante (1876)

HMS Bacchante was a Bacchante-class corvette built for the Royal Navy in the late 1870s. She was notable for carrying Prince Albert Victor and Prince George (later King George V) as midshipmen on a three-year world cruise, intended as part of their naval training.

Bacchante, along with her sister ship Euryalus, were among the last of the Royal Navy's sailing corvettes, although both ships were equipped with auxiliary steam engines. The Bacchante-class were constructed of iron and were designed for long-range cruising and trade protection duties.

Launched in 1876, Bacchante was commissioned in 1879 and immediately assigned to the Detached Squadron, which was formed specifically to provide naval training for the two young princes. Their voyage took them to various parts of the British Empire and beyond, including the Mediterranean, South America, South Africa, Australia, the Far East, and North America. The cruise, which lasted from 1879 to 1882, was extensively documented in journals and letters by those on board, providing valuable insights into the state of the British Empire and the life of a Royal Navy officer during that era.

Following the royal cruise, Bacchante served in various capacities, including service on the Cape of Good Hope Station. She was converted to a training ship in 1897 and renamed Ganges. She was eventually sold for scrap in 1920. Her historical significance primarily stems from her role in the education of future monarchs and the detailed record of a significant period in naval and imperial history.