The Arapiles career came to an unceremonious end when she ran aground off the coast of Venezuela. The damage was such that she needed immediate repairs and set berth in New York, USA. However, once in dock, the political situation between Spain and USA had worsened when a Spanish ship intercepted and commandeered the steamer Virginius off the coast of Cuba. As such, the Arapiles - still on dry dock in a New York port - was not allowed back out to sea by the Americans. By this time, the condition of her wooden hull was such that the vessel was more than a financial burden to repair at all.
Arapiles was ordered in 1861 and constructed began a year later by R & H Green of Blackwall. The vessel was launched in 1864 and officially commissioned in 1868 in Britain, making it home to Spain in December of that year. Her name was derived from the Duke of Wellington who took part in the Battle of Salamanca (1812) during the Peninsular War (the battle known in Spain and France as Los Arapiles) in which the Duke defeated the French.
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