The first USS CLAXTON DD 140, was launched January 14, 1919 at Mare Island Navy Yard. The ship was sponsored by Mrs. Frederick Kellogg and was placed in commission September 15, 1919, Lt. Commander F. T. Leighton in command.

The CLAXTON had an overall length of 314 ft. 5 in.; beam 31 ft. 9 in.; standard displacement 1060 tons, mean draft 8 ft. 8 in., designed speed 35 knots, designed complement 5 officers and 95 enlisted men. The primary armament was four 4 inch 50 caliber guns, one 1 pounder, two 3 inch, 3- .30 caliber machine guns and twelve 21" torpedo tubes.

The ship was assigned to Destroyer Division 17, Squadron 4, US Pacific Fleet. She operated on the Pacific Coast until placed out of commission on June 18, 1922 at San Diego,

Recommissioned on January 22, 1930 she served with Destroyer Squadrons, Pacific Fleet, on the west coast until February 15, 1931. From then until March 1932 she was attached to the Eighth Naval District at New Orleans and served with the Training Squadron, Scouting Fleet, on Naval Reservist cruises. She resumed operations with Destroyer Squadrons at San Diego until returning to the east coast with Naval Reserve units aboard in the summer of 1933.

She operated in Cuban waters with the Special Services Squadron investigating conditions in that troubled area from September 1933 until January 30, 1934. At that time she was placed in Rotating Reserve Squadron 19 at the Charleston Navy Yard. The ship rejoined the Squadron in November 1934 and operated in the Caribbean until October 25, 1935, reporting to Destroyer Squadron 10, Battle Force, for fleet activities and training. During 1936-1937 she was attached to the Naval Academy and made three coastal cruises.

She was designated for duty with Squadron 40-T in May of 1937, and then sailed from Norfolk in September with MANLEY arriving at Gibraltar on October 30, 1937. The CLAXTON operated in Spanish waters until November 1, 1938 when she returned to Norfolk. In January 1939 she resumed duty with Destroyer Squadron 10 at the Naval Academy.

From September 15 to December 14 of 1939 CLAXTON was engaged in the neutrality patrol off the Florida Straits, and from January 6 to February 21 in 1940 off the New England coast. After training cruises on the east coast she arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia on November 21, 1940. There she was delivered to British authorities five days later as a part of the deal exchanging destroyers for our use of British bases in the western Atlantic. She was decommissioned December 5, 1940 and stricken from the list on January 8, 1941. The British renamed her HMS SALISBURY.