The last of the trio J & G Thompson, Clydebank built ships, Stella entered service in 1890. Designed by their celebrated marine architect, John Biles, she was fitted with triple expansion engines driving twin screws giving a service speed of 18 knots.
Stella's career with the LSWR was tragically short; on the 30th March 1899 she struck Black Rock, part of the Casquets Rocks about ten miles west of Alderney and sank with the loss of 105 lives.