Sylvia was built as a private steam yacht of the same name in 1882 in the United Kingdom by A. Stephen and Sons at Glasgow, Scotland. On 13 June 1898, the U.S. Navy purchased her for use as a patrol yacht during the Spanish–American War.

Sylvia was commissioned as USS Sylvia on 29 June 1898. She departed New York City on 21 July 1898 bound for Norfolk, Virginia, then proceeded from Norfolk to Key West, Florida, where she arrived on 13 August 1898, the day after the war ended. On 17 August 1898 she departed Key West to return to Norfolk, arriving there on 25 August 1898. She was decommissioned at the Norfolk Navy Yard at Portsmouth, Virginia, on 10 December 1898.

For over 19 years, Sylvia was in non-commissioned service with state naval militias. She was transferred to the Maryland Naval Militia on 19 December 1898, beginning a nine-year tour of dutry there. On 6 December 1907, she was reassigned to the Pennsylvania Naval Militia and remained with that organization for over five-and-a-half years. On 13 September 1913, she was reassigned to the District of Columbia Naval Militia, with which she operated for over three-and-a-half years.

On 10 April 1917, the U.S. Navy recommissioned Sylvia for use as a section patrol vessel during World War I. Assigned to the 5th Naval District, she operated on patrol duty in the Hampton Roads, Virginia, area for the remainder of the war. During this period, she should not be confused with the second USS Sylvia (SP-471), a patrol vessel in commission at the same time.

Sylvia was decommissioned again after World War I. She was stricken from the Navy List on 24 April 1919 and sold on 20 October 1921.

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive: Sylvia