USS Southery, a steamer built in 1889 by R. Thompson Sons & Co. at Sunderland, England, was purchased by the United States Navy on 16 April 1898.

When the United States entered World War I in the spring of 1917, Southery was still at Portsmouth.

On 27 April, the 47 prisoners on board were transferred to the new Portsmouth Naval Prison and she received half of the first draft of recruits from the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and, for five months, trained them intensively.

On 16 April 1922, Southery moved to the Boston Navy Yard and assumed duty there as receiving ship on the 26th.

Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 September, and her hulk was sold to Boston Iron and Metal Co. of Baltimore, Maryland on 1 December.