This telescope is typical of the type used on board ship in the mid-19th century for general observations. It has a tapered leather-covered barrel and a single brass draw tube. The other brass fittings include a pivoted eyepiece cover and an objective lens cap. The maker's name is inscribed on the draw tube as 'Troughton & Simms / London'.

This telescope was originally owned by John Lort Stokes (1812-85), who served as Assistant Surveyor on the ‘Beagle’, the ship that took Charles Darwin on his voyages around the world between 1831 and 1836. Stokes subsequently took command of the ‘Beagle’ and conducted surveys of the Australian coast.

Many items formerly belonging to Stokes are now in the National Maritime Museum, including two telescopes contained in the same box as this telescope(NAV1670, NAV1671), another telescope (NAV1668) and his sword (WPN1024).