USS Marguerite should not be confused with USS Marguerite II.
Marguerite was built as a civilian motorboat of the same name in 1916 by the Smith-Williams Company at Salisbury, Maryland. The U.S. Navy purchased her from her owner, W. D. Sargent of Bayonne, New Jersey, on 27 June 1917 for World War I service as a patrol vessel. She was commissioned as USS Marguerite (SP-193) on 2 October 1917.
Marguerite was assigned to the 7th Naval District and served as a section patrol boat based at St. Augustine, Florida.
Marguerite was transferred to the Department of the Treasury on 11 December 1919 for use by the United States Coast Guard.