American Ambassadors to the United Kingdom

1800   1850   1900   1950    2000

Name Title State of Residency	Appointment	Presentation of Credentials	Termination of Mission	Note
John Adams Minister Plenipotentiary Massachusetts	Feb 24, 1785	Jun 1, 1785	Had farewell audience, Feb 20, 1788	Commissioned to the court of Great Britain; also accredited to the Netherlands.
Thomas Pinckney Minister Plenipotentiary South Carolina	Jan 12, 1792	Aug 9, 1792	Presented recall, Jul 27, 1796	Commissioned to the court of His Britannic Majesty.
Rufus King Minister Plenipotentiary New York	May 20, 1796	Jul 27, 1796	Presented recall on or shortly before May 16, 1803	Commissioned to the court of His Britannic Majesty.
James Monroe Minister Plenipotentiary Virginia	Apr 18, 1803	Aug 17, 1803	Presented recall Oct 7, 1807	Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Nov 18, 1803. Commissioned to the court of His Britannic Majesty.
William Pinkney Minister Plenipotentiary Maryland	Feb 26, 1808	Apr 27, 1808	Left England on or soon after May 7, 1811	Originally commissioned as Minister Plenipotentiary at the court of His Britannic Majesty and given a letter of credence as such, May 12, 1806--on the same day that he and Monroe were accredited jointly as Commissioners Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary on a special mission. When Monroe was preparing to leave London, he informed the Foreign Secretary that Pinkney would succeed him in the ordinary duties of the Legation; the British authorities declined to accept Pinkney's 1806 letter of credence, but dealt with him informally until he was recommissioned and reaccredited.
Jonathan Russell Chargé d'Affaires	[Jul 27, 1811 ]	Nov 15, 1811	The U.S. declared war on Great Britain, Jun 18, 1812; Russell received unofficial notice of this, Jul 29, 1812, and suspended his official functions	Commission (issued during a recess of the Senate) not of record, but enclosed with an instruction of Jul 27, 1811.
John Q. Adams Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Massachusetts	Feb 28, 1815	Jun 8, 1815	Presented recall, May 14, 1817	Commissioned to the court of the Prince Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Richard Rush Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Pennsylvania	1817	Feb 12, 1818	Presented recall, Apr 27, 1825	Month and day not included on record copy of commission, which was issued during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Dec 16, 1817. Commissioned to the court of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Rufus King Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary New York	May 5, 1825	Nov 11, 1825	Transmitted recall by note, 16-Jun 23, 1826	Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Dec 20, 1825. Commissioned to the court of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Albert Gallatin Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Pennsylvania	May 10, 1826	Sep 1, 1826	Left post, Oct 4, 1827	Commissioned to the court of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
James Barbour Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Virginia	May 23, 1828	Nov 24, 1828	Left post on or shortly before Oct 1, 1829	Commissioned to the court of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Louis McLane Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Delaware	Apr 18, 1829	Oct 12, 1829	Had farewell audience on or shortly before Jun 13, 1831	Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Feb 10, 1830. Commissioned to the court of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Martin Van Buren Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary New York	Aug 1, 1831	Sep 21, 1831	Had farewell audience, Mar 19, 1832	Commissioned during a recess of the Senate. Commissioned to the court of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Nomination later rejected by the Senate.
Aaron Vail Chargé d'Affaires	Jul 13, 1832	[see note below]	Superseded, Jul 13, 1836	No report has been found concerning Vail's presentation of credentials as Chargé d'Affaires en titre; he had been received as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim on Apr 4, 1832. Commissioned to the court of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Andrew Stevenson Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Virginia	Mar 16, 1836	Jul 13, 1836	Presented recall, Oct 21, 1841	Commissioned to the court of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Nomination of May 20, 1834 rejected by the Senate; nomination of Feb 1, 1836 confirmed.
Edward Everett Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Massachusetts	Sep 13, 1841	Dec 16, 1841	Presented recall, Aug 8, 1845	Commissioned to the court of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Louis McLane Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Maryland	Jun 16, 1845	Aug 8, 1845	Transmitted recall by note, Aug 18, 1846	Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Dec 23, 1845. Commissioned to the court of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
George Bancroft Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary New York	Sep 9, 1846	Nov 12, 1846	Transmitted recall by note, Aug 31, 1849	Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Dec 23, 1846. Commissioned to the court of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Abbott Lawrence Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Massachusetts	Aug 20, 1849	Oct 20, 1849	Transmitted recall by note, Oct 12, 1852	Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Jun 24, 1850. Commissioned to the court of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Joseph R. Ingersoll Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Pennsylvania	Aug 21, 1852	Oct 16, 1852	Presented recall, Aug 23, 1853	Commissioned to the court of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
James Buchanan Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Pennsylvania	Apr 11, 1853	Aug 23, 1853	Presented recall, Mar 15, 1856	Commissioned to the court of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
George M. Dallas Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Pennsylvania	Feb 4, 1856	Apr 4, 1856	Presented recall, May 16, 1861	Commissioned to the court of Her Britannic Majesty.
Charles Francis Adams Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Massachusetts	Mar 20, 1861	May 16, 1861	Presented recall, May 13, 1868	Commissioned to England.
George B. McClellan Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Ohio				Not commissioned; nomination rejected by the Senate.
Reverdy Johnson Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Maryland	Jun 12, 1868	Sep 14, 1868	Relinquished charge, May 13, 1869	Commissioned to England.
J. Lothrop Motley Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Massachusetts	Apr 13, 1869	Jun 18, 1869	Presented recall, Dec 6, 1870	Commissioned to England.
Frederick T. Frelinghuysen Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary New Jersey	Jul 15, 1870			Commissioned to London; declined appointment.
Oliver T. Morton Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Indiana	Sep 23, 1870			Commissioned during a recess of the Senate. Commissioned to London; declined appointment.
Robert C. Schenck Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Ohio	Dec 22, 1870	Jun 23, 1871	Left post, Mar 3, 1876
Richard H. Dana, Jr. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Massachusetts				Not commissioned; nomination rejected by the Senate.
Edwards Pierrepont Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary New York	May 22, 1876	Jul 11, 1876	Presented recall, Dec 22, 1877
John Welsh Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Pennsylvania	Nov 9, 1877	Dec 22, 1877	Presented recall, Aug 14, 1879
James Russell Lowell Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary	Jan 26, 1880	Mar 11, 1880	Presented recall, May 19, 1885
Edward J. Phelps Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Vermont	Mar 23, 1885	Mar 19, 1885	Left post, Jan 31, 1889
Robert T. Lincoln Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Illinois	Mar 30, 1889	May 25, 1889	Presented recall, May 4, 1893
Thomas F. Bayard Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Delaware	Mar 30, 1893	Jun 22, 1893	Left post, Mar 17, 1897
John Hay Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary District of Columbia	Mar 19, 1893	May 3, 1897	Presented recall, Sep 12, 1898
Joseph Choate Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary New York	Jan 19, 1899	Mar 6, 1899	Presented recall, May 23, 1905
Whitelaw Reid Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary New York	Mar 8, 1905	Jun 5, 1905	Died at post, Dec 15, 1912
Walter Hines Page Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary New York	Apr 21, 1913	May 30, 1913	Left post, Oct 3, 1918
John W. Davis Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary West Virginia	Nov 21, 1918	Dec 18, 1918	Left England, Mar 9, 1921
George Harvey Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary New Jersey	Apr 16, 1921	May 12, 1921	Left England, Nov 3, 1923
Frank B. Kellogg Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Minnesota	Dec 11, 1923	Jan 14, 1924	Presented recall, Feb 10, 1925
Alanson B. Houghton Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary New York	Feb 24, 1925	Apr 27, 1925	Left post, Mar 28, 1929
Charles G. Dawes Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Illinois	Apr 16, 1929	Jun 15, 1929	Left post, Dec 30, 1931
Andrew W. Mellon Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Pennsylvania	Feb 5, 1932	Apr 9, 1932	Left England, Mar 17, 1933
Robert Worth Bingham Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Kentucky	Mar 23, 1933	May 23, 1933	Left England, Nov 19, 1937
Joseph P. Kennedy Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary New York	Jan 17, 1938	Mar 8, 1938	Left post, Oct 22, 1940
John G. Winant Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary New Hampshire	Feb 11, 1941	Mar 1, 1941	Appointment terminated, Apr 10, 1946
W. Averell Harriman Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary New York	Apr 2, 1946	Apr 30, 1946	Left post, Oct 1, 1946
O. Max Gardner Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary North Carolina	[Dec 6, 1946]			Took oath of office, but died in the United States before proceeding to post. A commission signed by the President during a recess of the Senate, which had not yet been dated and attested, was returned to the President by the Acting Secretary on Dec 6, 1946, Gardner having declined a recess appointment. Recommissioned Jan 13, 1947.
Lewis W. Douglas Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Arizona	Mar 6, 1947	Mar 25, 1947	Left post, Nov 16, 1950
Walter S. Gifford Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary New York	Sep 29, 1950			Commissioned during a recess of the Senate. Did not serve under this appointment.
Walter S. Gifford Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary New York	Dec 12, 1950	Dec 21, 1950	Left post, Jan 23, 1953
Winthrop W. Aldrich Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary New York	Feb 2, 1953	Feb 20, 1953	Left England, Feb 1, 1957
John Hay Whitney Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary New York	Feb 11, 1957	Feb 28, 1957	Left post, Jan 14, 1961
David K.E. Bruce Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Maryland	Feb 22, 1961	Mar 17, 1961	Left post, Mar 20, 1969
Walter H. Annenberg Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Pennsylvania	Mar 14, 1969	Apr 29, 1969	Left post, Oct 30, 1974
Elliot L. Richardson Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Massachusetts	Feb 20, 1975	Mar 21, 1975	Left post, Jan 16, 1976
Anne Legendre Armstrong Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Texas	Jan 29, 1976	Mar 17, 1976	Left post, Mar 3, 1977
Kingman Brewster, Jr. Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Connecticut	Apr 29, 1977	Jun 3, 1977	Left post, Feb 23, 1981
John J. Louis, Jr. Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Illinois	May 7, 1981	May 27, 1981	Relinquished charge, Nov 7, 1983
Charles H. Price, II Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Missouri	Nov 11, 1983	Dec 20, 1983	Left post, Feb 28, 1989
Henry E. Catto, Jr. Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Texas	Apr 14, 1989	May 17, 1989	Left post, Mar 13, 1991
Raymond George Hardenbergh Seitz Foreign Service officer Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Texas	Apr 25, 1991	Jun 25, 1991	Left post, May 10, 1994
William J. Crowe, Jr. Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Virginia	May 13, 1994	Jun 2, 1994	Left post, Sep 20, 1997
Philip Lader Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary South Carolina	Aug 1, 1997	Sep 22, 1997	Left post, Feb. 28, 2001
William S. Farish Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Texas	July 11, 2001	August 2001	Left post, July 10, 2004
Robert Holmes Tuttle Non-career appointee Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary California	30 June 2005
Data source: Department of State's Chiefs of Mission from 1778 to 1995

Facts About American Ambassadors to the United Kingdom

Who were the first U.S. Ambassadors?

The rank of Ambassador was first used by the United States in 1893. Thomas F. Bayard was appointed Ambassador to Great Britain on March 30, 1893. James B. Eustis was appointed Ambassador to France on April 18, 1893. Prior to this date, the highest-ranking U.S. diplomats were Ministers.

Have there been multi-generational foreign affairs families in U.S. history?

John Adams was the first U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom. He was appointed February 24, 1785, presented his credentials to King George III on June 1, 1785, and served until February 20, 1788. His son John Quincy Adams was the first U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom after the War of 1812. He was appointed February 28, 1815, and served until May 14, 1817. Grandson Charles Francis Adams served from 1861 to 1868. Much of his work involved keeping Britain neutral during the Civil War and negotiating postwar agreements with Britain to settle U.S. claims for damages against that country.

A family of English Quaker merchants named Fox were U.S. Consuls at Falmouth, England. Robert Were Fox served from 1794 to 1812, and again from 1815 to his death in 1818. Robert Were Fox , Jr. served from 1819 to 1854 (their middle name is sometimes spelled "Weare" or "Ware"). Somehow the Consulate passed out of the family between 1854 and 1863. Two more generations of Foxes then served. Alfred Fox was appointed in 1863, and Howard Fox served from 1874 until the post was closed in December 1905.

Have any distinguished writers who have held diplomatic, consular, or senior State Department posts in the U.K.?

• Nathaniel Hawthorne, Consul at Liverpool, 1853-57.
• Bret Harte, Consul at Crefeld, 1878-1880, and at Glasgow, 1880-1885.
• James Russell Lowell, Minister to Spain, 1877-80; to Great Britain, 1880-85.

Source: Frequently Asked Questions about Department of State History

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