A sister ship to the , the ship was launched on 28 June 1892, completed on 22 August 1892 and began her maiden voyage on 26 August 1892, sailing from Liverpool to New York City. The ship was intended for the Atlantic cattle trade and able to carry about 1,050 cattle on the upper main deck and had special accommodation for horses amidships. Designed to carry livestock with a small number of passengers, she was later converted into a passenger ship.
