She was launched in 1893 and initially sailed on American Line's transatlantic route from Liverpool, via Queenstown, to Philadelphia. In 1895, Southwark was sold to the Red Star Line which employed her on the Antwerp to New York route. In 1903 she was sold to the Dominion Line for the Liverpool to Canada route. She was sold to the Allan line before being scrapped in 1911.
Her sister ship was SS Kensington.