the first navy ship to be named "glacier" was built as the merchant ship, ss "port chalmers" in 1891 by j.l. thompson & son, sunderland, england; purchased from the federal line, london, july 1898; commissioned at new york 5 july 1898, comdr. j. p. merrill, usn, commanding; had her name changed to uss "delmonico" 6 july 1898, and to uss "glacier" 6 days later.