Hi Marky,
You're right about the merchant vessel, TS King Edward was a passenger steamer operating on the Clyde from 1901 to 1951.
But while researching HMS Dreadnought some time ago (for another member) I was astounded to learn that, whereas she was the first capital ship with turbines, the first naval vessels with turbines were actually experimental Destroyers HMS Viper and Cobra. Both launched in 1899 and both lost in 1901.
Viper ran aground near Alderney and Cobra broke her back, due to a construction weakness, in a storm off Cromer.
Yes Roy, Parson's (name sound familiar?) launch Turbinia shocked the maritime world. Especially the RN when she ran rings around the Fleet Review, for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee at Spithead in 1897.😮
At 34 knots she made the RN ship chasing her look silly. Reports suggest that Victoria 'was NOT amused' 😠😁
But the demo hit it's mark and resulted in the orders for the two trials destroyers.
Cheers, Doug😎
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Dreadnought_(1906)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbinia