The first ship to be so named by the Navy, Felicia (No. 642) was built in 1898 by J. N. Robins Company, Brooklyn, New York; purchased by the Navy 2 June 1917; and commissioned 29 June 1917, Lieutenant H. Langworthy, USNRF, in command. (The other USS Felicia, PYc-35, was built in 1931, and served in World War II.)