She was laid down as builder’s number 377 on 18 July 1899 at the R.W. Hawthorn Leslie and Company shipyard at Hebburn-on-Tyne and launched on on 6 October 1900. During her builder’s trials she made her contract speed of 30 knots. She was completed and accepted by the Royal Navy in January 1902 at a total cost of £61,066.