One of the first four ships to settle Christchurch, New Zealand, the Randolph left Gravesend on September 4, 1850, and Plymouth on the night of September 7. The ship was chartered by the Canterbury Association, with Captain William Dale serving as the ship's captain. She arrived at Lyttleton 99 days later on December 16, 1850, with 34 cabin passengers, 15 intermediate and 161 steerage passengers.

She was constructed in 1849 in Sunderland, according to Lloyds Registry, and weighed 664 tons.

She was lost on 25 June, on a reef off Amber Island (Mapon). She had on board a cargo of sugar for London, a large amount of money, and 254 Indian emigrants, for Port Louis. Nothing belonging to the vessel could be saved. Mr. Scott, an officer of the Madras Army, swam on shore, but died a moment after reaching it from exhaustion. Two European sailors, nine men (immigrants), ten women and three children were drowned.