Ordered on 4 March 1858, "Couronne" was laid down at the Arsenal de Lorient on 14 February 1859, launched on 28 March 1861 and commissioned on 2 February 1862 at a cost of 6,018,885 francs. On 19 June 1864, "Couronne" played an incidental role in the Battle of Cherbourg as she escorted the Confederate commerce raider out of French territorial waters to her fight with . While assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet, the ship made a port visit in August 1865 to Brest where the fleet hosted the British Channel Fleet. A few days later the French fleet made a reciprocal visit to Portsmouth where it was hosted by the Channel Fleet. On 1 March 1867, "Couronne" was driven ashore in the Îles d'Hyères, Var in a storm. Several lives were lost.