Guinevere was built in 1908 as a private steam and sail yacht of the same name by George Lawley & Son at Neponset, Massachusetts. On 10 June 1917, the U.S. Navy acquired her from her owner, Edgar Palmer of New York City, for use as a section patrol vessel during World War I. She was commissioned as USS Guinevere (SP-512) on 20 July 1917 with Lieutenant Guy Davis in command. Guinevere ran aground and was wrecked off the French coast on 26 January 1918 with no loss of life. Her wreck was sold for scrapping to the French firm Societe Americaine de Sauvetage on 30 June 1919.