Sinclair was laid down on 15 October 1918 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Squantum, Massachusetts; launched on 2 June 1919; sponsored by Mrs. George Barnett, great-granddaughter of Capt.

On 9 July 1920, Sinclair embarked the Secretary of the Navy and Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, at Seattle, Washington, and carried them on a tour of ports in Alaska and British Columbia.

The Secretary of the Navy transferred to Idaho (BB-42) on 18 July, and the Commander in Chief to New Mexico (BB-40) upon returning to Puget Sound on 12 August.

From 15 March to 30 April, she received repairs at Bremerton; and, on 21 June, departed San Diego with the Battle Fleet for summer exercises off Puget Sound, which lasted until 1 September.

Again departing San Diego with the Battle Fleet on 17 February 1927, Sinclair transited the Panama Canal on 4 March and participated in exercises in the Caribbean until 13 April.

Sinclair was struck from the Navy list on 5 June 1935 and sold on 30 August 1935 to Learner and Rosenthal, Oakland, California, for scrapping.