The Russian War (1854)

Under Commander Frederick Archibald Campbell^[3] Hornet served in the Baltic campaign of 1854 during the Russian War.

The East Indies and China Stations (1854 - 1856)

On 25 April 1855 Hornet, along with HMS Sybille and HMS Bittern, under Commodore The Hon. Charles Elliot discovered Liancourt Rocks in the Sea of Japan, at 37°14′22″N 131°52′10″E. It was about a mile in extent, running in a NW by W and SE by E direction and formed together by a reef of rocks.^[2] The Hornet's commander at the time, Charles Codrington Forsyth, noted in the ship's log:

We could discern no dangers lying off them and the waters appear to be deep close to the shore. They are barren, without exception of a few patches of grass on their sides and landing would be difficult except in very calm weather. The height of the NW island was ascertained to be 410 ft above sea level

The Second Opium War (1856 - 1859)

On 12 November 1856, in company with Calcutta, Nankin, Encounter, Barracouta and Coromandel, she bombarded and captured the Bogue forts and the next day, the Anunghoy forts.^[4] Christmas 1856 was spent as Guardship at Canton (now Guangzhou). In 1857 she spent much of her time at Hong Kong and in the Canton River, culminating in the capture of Canton on 28 December 1857 under Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour.^[5][6] In February 1859 she sailed for England, decommissioning in Portsmouth on 14 July 1859.^[2]

The Cape of Good Hope and East Indies Stations (1860 - 1864)

On 20 July 1860 Hornet recommissioned for service on the Cape of Good Hope Station under Commander William Buller Fullerton Elphinstone.^[2] She also served during this period on the East Indies Station.^[3]