"Argyll", named to commemorate the Scottish county, was laid down at Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering at their Greenock shipyard on 25 March 1902 and was launched on 3 March 1904. She was completed in December 1905 and was assigned to the 1st Cruiser Squadron of the Channel Fleet in January 1906. She was transferred to the 5th Cruiser Squadron of the Atlantic Fleet in 1909. Two years later she was detached from the squadron to escort the Royal Yacht during the King's trip to the Delhi Durbar in India in 1911–12. She ran aground in Plymouth Sound on 28 December 1912. The following year she was assigned to the 3rd Cruiser Squadron of the Second Fleet.