Sovereign was built as a civilian yacht of the same name in 1911 by Charles L. Seabury and Company at Morris Heights in the Bronx, New York, for private use as a pleasure and commuting vessel. Prior to the entry of the United States into World War I in April 1917, Sovereign was registered with the U.S. Navy for potential service in time of war, and the Navy acquired her from the estate of M. C. D. Borden on 14 June 1918 for World War I service as a patrol vessel. She was commissioned as USS Sovereign (SP-170).
Sovereign served the 3rd Naval District as a patrol craft in the New York City area for ten months.
On 23 April 1919, Sovereign was stricken from the Navy List, and soon thereafter she was returned to her owners estate.