The British ambassador to the United States is in charge of the British Embassy, Washington, D.C., the United Kingdom's diplomatic mission to the United States. The official title is His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to the United States of America.

The ambassador's residence is on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, D.C. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and built in 1928.

Duties The position of ambassador to the United States is considered to be one of the most important and prestigious posts in His Majesty's Diplomatic Service, along with that of Permanent Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The ambassador's main duty is to present British policies to the American government and people, and to report American policies and views to the Government of the United Kingdom. They serve as the primary channel of communication between the two nations, and play an important role in treaty negotiations.

The ambassador is the head of the United Kingdom's consular service in the United States. As well as directing diplomatic activity in support of trade, they are ultimately responsible for visa services and for the provision of consular support to British citizens in America. They also oversee cultural relations between the two countries.

History The first British envoy to the United States was Sir John Temple, who was appointed consul general in 1785 and was based in New York at the estate at Richmond Hill (Manhattan) which served previously as a headquarters for George Washington.

George Hammond was appointed on 5 July 1791. He held the title of Minister in Washington or Minister to the United States of America.

In 1809, David Erskine and President James Madison negotiated a compromise on Anglo-American disputes over shipping in the Atlantic, which might have averted the War of 1812. However, the deal was rejected by King George III and the British Government recalled Erskine.

By the 1850s, the envoy's title was Her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States of America, and the United Kingdom had consulates in several American cities. Under the direction of Sir John Crampton in 1854 and 1855, British consuls attempted to enlist American volunteers to fight in the Crimean War. The American government strenuously objected, and President Franklin Pierce asked for Crampton to be recalled. The United Kingdom refused, and in May 1856 the American government dismissed Crampton, along with the United Kingdom's consuls in New York, Philadelphia and Cincinnati. After much negotiation, the United Kingdom was allowed to re-establish its Legation in Washington the following year, and Lord Napier became the new minister.

In 1893, the British diplomatic mission in Washington was raised from a Legation to an Embassy, and Sir Julian Pauncefote, Minister since 1889, was appointed as the United Kingdom's first ambassador to the United States, with the title Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States.

The role has in the past been offered to three former Prime Ministers: the Earl of Rosebery, David Lloyd George and Sir Edward Heath, all of whom declined.

Heads of mission

Ministers plenipotentiary (1791–1795)

As a republic, the United States was not entitled to receive an ambassador. Instead, the United Kingdom dispatched a diplomat with the lower rank of minister plenipotentiary. This placed the United Kingdom on equal footing with France, which also maintained a minister plenipotentiary in the United States.

1791–1795: George Hammond

Envoys extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary (1796–1893)

In 1796, the United Kingdom raised its representation to envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, or minister. Diplomatic relations would be maintained at this rank for almost 100 years.

1796–1800: Sir Robert Liston 1800–1804: Sir Edward Thornton 1803–1806: Anthony Merry 1807–1809: The Hon. David Erskine 1809–1811: Francis Jackson 1811–1812: Sir Augustus Foster 1812–1815: No representation due to the War of 1812 1815–1820: The Hon. Sir Charles Bagot 1820–1824: Stratford Canning 1825–1835: Sir Charles Vaughan 1835–1843: Sir Henry Fox 1843–1847: Richard Pakenham 1849–1852: Sir Henry Bulwer 1852–1856: Sir John Crampton, Bt 1857–1858: The Lord Napier 1858–1865: The Lord Lyons 1865–1867: Sir Frederick Bruce 1867–1881: Sir Edward Thornton 1881–1888: The Hon. Lionel Sackville-West 1889–1893: Sir Julian Pauncefote

Ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary (from 1893) 1893–1902: Sir Julian Pauncefote (Lord Pauncefote from 1899) 1902–1903: The Hon. Sir Michael Herbert 1903–1906: Sir Mortimer Durand 1907–1913: James Bryce 1913–1918: Sir Cecil Spring Rice 1918–1919: The Earl of Reading 1919–1920: The Viscount Grey of Fallodon 1920–1924: Sir Auckland Geddes 1924–1930: Sir Esme Howard 1930–1939: Sir Ronald Lindsay 1939–1940: The Marquess of Lothian 1940–1946: The Viscount Halifax (The Earl of Halifax from 1944) 1946–1948: The Lord Inverchapel 1948–1952: Sir Oliver Franks 1953–1956: Sir Roger Makins 1956–1961: Sir Harold Caccia 1961–1965: The Hon. Sir David Ormsby-Gore (Lord Harlech from 1964) 1965–1969: Sir Patrick Dean 1969–1971: The Rt. Hon. John Freeman 1971–1974: The Earl of Cromer 1974–1977: The Hon. Sir Peter Ramsbotham 1977–1979: The Hon. Peter Jay 1979–1982: Sir Nicholas Henderson 1982–1986: Sir Oliver Wright 1986–1991: Sir Antony Acland 1991–1995: Sir Robin Renwick 1995–1997: Sir John Kerr 1997–2003: Sir Christopher Meyer 2003–2007: Sir David Manning 2007–2012: Sir Nigel SheinwaldThe British Ambassador 2012: Sir Philip Barton, Chargé d'affaires ad interim 2012–2016: Sir Peter WestmacottChange of Her Majesty's Ambassador to the United States of America, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 20 August 2015 2016–2019: Sir Kim Darroch (The Lord Darroch of Kew from 2019) 2020: Michael Tatham, Chargé d'affaires ad interim 2020–2025: Dame Karen Pierce 2025: James Roscoe, Chargé d'affaires ad interim 2025: The Lord Mandelson 2025–2026: James Roscoe, Chargé d'affaires ad interim

2026–: Sir Christian Turner

See also United States ambassador to the United Kingdom Canadian ambassadors to the United States – replacing the role of the British Ambassador to the US (and Foreign Secretary of State for the Colonies) in dealing with diplomatic relations for Canada after 1926

References

External links UK and United States of America, gov.uk