"Wainwright" was authorized in 1913 as the sixth and final ship of the which, like the related , was an improved version of the s authorized in 1911. Construction of the vessel was awarded to New York Shipbuilding of Camden, New Jersey, which laid down her keel on 1 September 1914. Just over nine months later, on 12 June 1915, "Wainwright" was launched by sponsor Miss Evelyn Wainwright Turpin, a descendant of the ship's namesakes, Commodore Jonathan Wainwright (1821–1863), his cousin Richard Wainwright (1817–1862), and son Jonathan Wainwright, Jr. (1849–1870), all U.S. Navy officers that died while serving. As built, "Wainwright" was in length and abeam and drew . The ship had a standard displacement of and displaced when fully loaded.