Leander was a composite built clipper ship. She was designed by Bernard Waymouth, and built in 1867 by J G Lawrie of Glasgow for Joseph Somes. She had a particularly extreme hull shape, with a coefficient of under-deck tonnage of 0.54, a very low figure. She was at her best in light winds and performed well to windward or in a head sea. Being somewhat tender if pressed in heavy weather, she had to carry so much ballast that she was down to her marks before being fully laden.