The United States recognized the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen in 1946 and commissioned its first ambassador, J. Rives Childs to the Kingdom of Yemen on August 22, 1946. A diplomatic legation was established in Ta'izz. At that time the ambassador to Saudi Arabia was concurrently commissioned to Yemen while resident in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Following a coup d'état in North Yemen in 1962, the nation was renamed Yemen Arab Republic. A period of civil war ensued for the next five years. The United States maintained diplomatic relations with the Kingdom but no ambassador was accredited to the nation. A series of chargés d'affaires maintained the legation during that period. Also during that time, the legation in Ta'izz was raised to embassy status on January 28, 1963 and the embassy was transferred to San'a in 1966.

The Yemen Arab Republic severed relations with the United States June 7, 1967. A U.S. Interests Section was established in the Italian Embassy on April 10, 1970. The embassy in San'a was re-established on July 1, 1972. The first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, William R. Crawford, Jr., was appointed on October 12, 1972.

On May 22, 1990, the Yemen Arab Republic and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) announced that they were forming a united Republic of Yemen.

For subsequent ambassadors to the Republic of Yemen, see United States Ambassador to Yemen.

For ambassadors to South Yemen, see United States Ambassador to South Yemen.

Ambassadors Note: Until 1963 the embassy had the status of legation rather than embassy and the title of the ambassador was Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. Note: Until 1957 the envoy was concurrently commissioned to the Kingdom of Yemen and Saudi Arabia, while resident at Jeddah. J. Rives Childs – Career FSOChilds was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on January 13, 1947. Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointed: August 22, 1946 Presented credentials: September 30, 1946 Terminated mission: Left Jeddah, July 21, 1950 Raymond A. Hare – Career FSO Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointed: September 20, 1950 Presented credentials: July 22, 1951 Terminated mission: Left Jeddah, July 8, 1953 George Wadsworth – Career FSOWadsworth was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on January 26, 1954. Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointed: October 21, 1953 Presented credentials: September 13, 1954 Terminated mission: Left Jeddah, January 1, 1958 Note: In 1957 or 1958 (records unclear), the U.S. ambassador to Egypt was concurrently commissioned to Yemen while resident at Cairo. Donald R. Heath – Career FSOHeath took the oath of office, but did not present credentials in Yemen. He did serve in Saudi Arabia.Heath was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned on January 27, 1958. Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointed: November 27, 1957 Presented credentials: — Terminated mission: — Raymond A. Hare – Career FSOAfter Hare's departure from Yemen following presentation of his credentials, Legation Ta'izz was opened to the public effective March 16, 1959, with Charles B. Ferguson as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim. Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointed: February 16, 1959 Presented credentials: March 11, 1959 Terminated mission: Left Cairo, December 18, 1959 G. Frederick Reinhardt – Career FSO Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointed: January 27, 1960 Presented credentials: April 28, 1960 Terminated mission: Left Cairo, May 6, 1961 Parker T. Hart – Career FSOHart was concurrently accredited to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia while resident at Jeddah. Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointed: May 20, 1961 Presented credentials: October 1, 1961 Terminated mission: Appointment terminated, September 27, 1962 Notes: In 1962–1967 during a period of civil war in North Yemen, there was no ambassador or envoy commissioned to the Yemen Arab Republic. The Chargés d'Affaires ad interim 1962–1967 were: Robert Stookey (1963) James N. Cortada (February 1963–August 1964) Lee Dinsmore (August 1964–June 1967) The U.S. Legation was raised to embassy status on January 28, 1963. The embassy was moved to San'a in 1966. The Yemen Arab Republic severed diplomatic relations with the United States June 7, 1967 and all U.S. diplomatic personnel were withdrawn. A U.S. Interest Section was established in the Italian Embassy on April 10, 1970. Principal Officers were David W. McClintock (April 1970–February 1972) and Robert A. Stein (February–July 1972). The embassy in San'a was re-established on July 1, 1972, with Robert A. Stein as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim. From 1972 the ambassador had the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and was commissioned to the Yemen Arab Republic. William R. Crawford Jr. – Career FSO Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: October 12, 1972 Presented credentials: December 19, 1972 Terminated mission: Left post July 6, 1974 Thomas J. Scotes – Career FSO Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: December 20, 1974 Presented credentials: January 21, 1975 Terminated mission: Left post April 24, 1978 George M. Lane – Career FSO Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: August 11, 1978 Presented credentials: October 5, 1978 Terminated mission: Left post July 4, 1981 David E. Zweifel – Career FSO Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: September 28, 1981 Presented credentials: October 24, 1981 Terminated mission: Left post June 20, 1984 William Arthur Rugh – Career FSO Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: September 21, 1984 Presented credentials: October 28, 1984 Terminated mission: Left post July 4, 1987 Note: The post was vacant July 1987–August 1988. Theodore H. Kattouf served as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim in that interval. Charles Franklin Dunbar – Career FSODunbar was renominated on January 27, 1988, an earlier nomination not having been acted upon by the Senate. Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: June 16, 1988 Presented credentials: August 14, 1988 Terminated mission: Left post June 13, 1991

On May 22, 1990, the Yemen Arab Republic and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen united to form the "Republic of Yemen." For ambassadors to the Republic of Yemen, see United States Ambassador to Yemen.

See also Yemen Arab Republic History of Yemen

Notes

References U.S. Dep’t of State: Background Notes on Yemen U.S. Dep’t of State: U.S. Ambassadors to Yemen