USS Active was a tug constructed in 1888 at San Francisco by the Union Iron Works. She was acquired by the United States Navy from John D. Spreckels Brothers Co. on 18 April 1898 "for auxiliary purposes incident to a state of war." Converted for naval service at her builder's yard, she was commissioned at the Mare Island Navy Yard on 6 July 1898, Ens. Thomas M. Shaw in command. She was the third US Navy ship to be named Active.