British Ambassador to the United States
The British Ambassador is in charge of Britain's diplomatic mission to the USA. His official title is, Her Majesty's Ambassador to the United States of America.
The Ambassador's residence is on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, DC. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and built in 1928.
Work
British Ambassador to America is one of the three most important jobs in Britain's Diplomatic Service, along with Permanent Representative to the European Union and Permanent Under Secretary at the Foreign 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 Britain. He serves as the primary channel of communication between the two nations, and plays an important role in treaty negotations.
The Ambassador is the head of Britain's consular service in the USA. As well as directing diplomatic activity in support of trade, he is ultimately responsible for visa services and for the provision of consular support to British citizens in America. He also over-sees cultural relations between the two countries.
History
Britain appointed its first envoy to America, George Hammond, on 5th July 1791. He held the title of Minister in Washington or Minister to the United States of America.
In 1809, David Montague Erskine and President James Madison negotiated a compromise to Anglo-American disputes over shipping in the Atlantic, which would have averted the War of 1812. However, the deal was rejected by the King 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 Britain had consulates in several American cities. Under the direction of Sir John Cramption 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. Britain refused and, in May 1856, the American government dismissed Crampton, along with the British consuls in New York, Philadelphia and Cincinnati. After much negotiation, Britain was allowed 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 Britain's first Ambassador to the USA, with the title His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States.
The current Ambassador, Sir David Manning, was appointed on 2nd September 2003.
List of Ambassadors
1791-1893 (Minister in Washington)
- George Hammond (1791-1795)
- ? (1795-1803)
- Anthony Merry (1803-1806)
- David Montague Erskine (1807-1809)
- Francis James Jackson (1809-1811)
- Augustus John Foster (1811-1812)
- Sir Charles Bagot (1815-1820)
- ? (1820-1835)
- Henry Stephen Fox (1835-1843)
- Sir Richard Pakenham (1843-1847)
- ? (1847-1849)
- Sir Henry Bulwer (1849-1852)
- Sir John Fiennes Twisleton Crampton (1852-1856)
- Francis Napier, 10th Lord Napier of Merchistoun (1857-1858)
- Richard Bickerton Pemell Lyons, 2nd Baron Lyons of Christchurch (1858-1865)
- Sir Frederick Bruce (1865-1867)
- Sir Edward Thornton (1867-1881)
- Lionel Sackville-West, knighted 1885 (1881-1888)
- Sir Julian Pauncefote (1889-1893)
1893 onwards (Ambassador to the United States of America)
- Sir Julian Pauncefote, Baron Pauncefote from 1899 (1893-1902)
- Sir Michael Henry Herbert (1902-1903)
- Sir Henry Mortimer Durand (1903-1906)
- James Bryce (1907-1913)
- Sir Cecil Spring-Rice (1913-1918)
- Rufus Isaacs, 1st Earl of Reading (1918-1919)
- Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon (1919-1920)
- Sir Auckland Geddes (1920-1924)
- Sir Esme Howard (1924-1930)
- Sir Ronald Lindsay (1930-1939)
- Philip Henry Kerr, 11th Marquess of Lothian (1939-1940)
- Edward Wood, 3rd Viscount Halifax (1940-1946)
- Archibald Clark Kerr, Baron Inverchapel (1946-1948)
- Sir Oliver Franks (1948-1952)
- Sir Roger Makins (1953-1956)
- Sir Harold Caccia (1956-1961)
- Sir David Ormsby-Gore (1961-1965)
- Sir Patrick Dean (1965-1969)
- John Freeman (1969-1971)
- George Baring, 3rd Earl of Cromer (1971-1974)
- Sir Peter Ramsbotham (1974-1977)
- Peter Jay (1977-1979)
- Sir Nicholas Henderson (1979-1982)
- Sir Oliver Wright (1982-1986)
- Sir Antony Acland (1986-1991)
- Sir Robin Renwick (1991-1995)
- Sir John Kerr (1995-1997)
- Sir Christopher Meyer (1997-2003)
- Sir David Manning (2003 onwards)
