Designed by Charles Hanscom and built in 1894 by Bath Iron Works, the Harvard was originally purchased by Mr. W.A. Slater under the name the Eleanor. As the United States was approaching World War I, Mr. George Baker purchased Eleanor and changed her name to Harvard, and donated her to the U.S. Navy. She served on the Breton Patrol during the war, and afterwards, was purchased by commercial interests in Europe. It is believed that she was still in service in Greek waters as late as 1948.