Royal Naval Academy Academy was reconstituted as the "Royal Navy College" and in 1816 was amalgamated with the "School of Naval Architecture". The college closed as a young officer training establishment on 30 March 1837, meaning that from that date all youngsters setting out on a naval career proceeded directly to sea. The closure of the college created a gap in officer training, and in 1857 the two-decker "Illustrious" undertook the role of cadet training ship at Portsmouth. In 1859 she was replaced by the three-decker "Britannia", which was removed to Portland in 1862 and to Dartmouth in 1863. A distinguished Academy graduate
Britannia Royal Naval College 1863, when the wooden hulk was moved from Portland and moored in the River Dart to serve as a base. In 1864, after an influx of new recruits, "Britannia" was supplemented by . Prior to this, a Royal Naval Academy (later Royal Naval College) had operated for more than a century from 1733 to 1837 at Portsmouth, a major naval installation. The original "Britannia" was replaced by the in 1869, which was renamed "Britannia." The foundation stone for a new building at the college was laid by King Edward VII in March 1902. Sir Aston Webb designed the shore-based college