Wainwright was authorized in 1913 as the sixth and final ship of the Tucker class which, like the related O'Brien class, was an improved version of the Cassin-class destroyers 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 315 feet 3 inches (96.09 m) in length and 29 feet 9 inches (9.07 m) abeam and drew 9 feet 4 inches (2.84 m).
The ship had a standard displacement of 1,060 long tons (1,080 t) and displaced 1,205 long tons (1,224 t) when fully loaded.

Wainwright had two Curtis steam turbines that drove her two screw propellers, and an additional steam turbine geared to one of the propeller shafts for cruising purposes.
The power plant could generate 17,000 shaft horsepower (13,000 kW) and move the ship at speeds up to 30 knots (56 km/h).

Wainwright's main battery consisted of four 4 in (102 mm)/50 Mark 9 guns, with each gun weighing in excess of 6,100 pounds (2,800 kg).
The guns fired 33-pound (15 kg) armor-piercing projectiles at 2,900 feet per second (880 m/s).
At an elevation of 20°, the guns had a range of 15,920 yards (14,560 m).

Wainwright was also equipped with eight 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes.
The General Board of the United States Navy had called for two anti-aircraft guns for the Tucker-class ships, as well as provisions for laying up to 36 floating mines.
From sources, it is unclear if these recommendations were followed for Wainwright or any of the other ships of the class.
Wainwright was authorized in 1913 as the sixth and final ship of the Tucker class which, like the related O'Brien class, was an improved version of the Cassin-class destroyers 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 315 feet 3 inches (96.09 m) in length and 29 feet 9 inches (9.07 m) abeam and drew 9 feet 4 inches (2.84 m). The ship had a standard displacement of 1,060 long tons (1,080 t) and displaced 1,205 long tons (1,224 t) when fully loaded.
Wainwright had two Curtis steam turbines that drove her two screw propellers, and an additional steam turbine geared to one of the propeller shafts for cruising purposes. The power plant could generate 17,000 shaft horsepower (13,000 kW) and move the ship at speeds up to 30 knots (56 km/h).
Wainwright's main battery consisted of four 4 in (102 mm)/50 Mark 9 guns, with each gun weighing in excess of 6,100 pounds (2,800 kg). The guns fired 33-pound (15 kg) armor-piercing projectiles at 2,900 feet per second (880 m/s). At an elevation of 20°, the guns had a range of 15,920 yards (14,560 m).
Wainwright was also equipped with eight 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes. The General Board of the United States Navy had called for two anti-aircraft guns for the Tucker-class ships, as well as provisions for laying up to 36 floating mines. From sources, it is unclear if these recommendations were followed for Wainwright or any of the other ships of the class.
USS Wainwright (DD-62)