    {|    |} uss dolphin (pg-24) was a gunboat/dispatch vesselâwas the fourth ship of the united states navy to be named for the dolphin. dolphins keel was laid down by john roach & sons of chester, pennsylvania. she was launched on 12 april 1884, with captain george dewey in command, and commissioned on 8 december 1885 with captain r. w. meade in command. dolphin was the first navy ship to fly the flag of the president of the united states during president chester a. arthur's administration, and the second navy ship to serve as a presidential yacht. ==service history== ===pre-spanish-american war=== the first of the vessels of the "new navy" to be completed, dolphin was assigned to the north atlantic station, cruising along the eastern seaboard until february 1886. she then sailed around south america on her way to the pacific squadron for duty. she visited ports in japan, korea, china, ceylon, india, arabia, egypt, italy, spain, and england, and the islands of madeira and bermuda, before arriving at new york city on 27 september 1889 to complete her round-the-world cruise. she returned to duty on the north atlantic station, cruising in the west indies from 9 december 1889, â 12 june 1890. on 23 december, she was reassigned to the squadron of evolution and sailed from new york city on 7 january 1891 for a caribbean cruise, returning to norfolk, virginia on 7 april. out of commission from 1 may 1891â14 march 1892, dolphin then resumed her cruising along the atlantic coast, of
1884_ships Banana_Wars_ships_of_the_United_States Gunboats_of_the_United_States_Navy Presidential_yachts_of_the_United_States Ships_built_by_the_Delaware_River_Iron_Ship_Building_and_Engine_Works Ships_built_in_Pennsylvania World_War_I_cruisers_of_the_United_States