Lord Clyde, named for the British Army commander in Crimea and India, was built for the packet service between Ireland and Scotland operated by the Dublin &amp; Glasgow Sailing and Steam Packet Company. She was launched at Greenock, Scotland, by Caird &amp; Co. as Yard No.97 on 3 July 1862. "Lord Clyde" was an iron-hulled vessel with a length of , a beam of , a depth of and a draft of . She measured and and was powered by a 2-cylinder oscillating side-lever steam engine of 350 nhp, also made by Caird, driving two side paddle wheels. On completion she conducted sea trials on 18 September 1862 and sailed from Greenock five days later for Kingstown, Dublin to commence her regular service with Glasgow.