List of ambassadors of the United Kingdom to the United States

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 Sheinwald
• 2012: Sir Philip Barton, Chargé d'affaires ad interim
• 2012–2016: Sir Peter Westmacott
• 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–: James Roscoe, Chargé d'affaires ad interim

On 18 December 2025 it was announced that Christian Turner would serve as the next ambassador.

References

References

1. {{London Gazette. (26 February 1785)
2. Theakston, Kevin. (May 2010). "What next for Gordon Brown?". History & Policy.
3. Great Britain. Foreign Office. (1941). "Instructions to the British Ministers to the United States, 1791–1812". United States Government Printing Office.
4. {{London Gazette. (12 March 1796)
5. {{London Gazette. (25 January 1803)
6. {{London Gazette. (19 July 1806)
7. {{London Gazette. (23 May 1809)
8. {{London Gazette. (6 June 1815)
9. {{London Gazette. (22 July 1820)
10. {{London Gazette. (26 March 1825)
11. {{London Gazette. (25 September 1835)
12. {{London Gazette. (14 November 1843)
13. {{London Gazette. (27 April 1849)
14. {{London Gazette. (23 January 1852)
15. {{London Gazette. (23 January 1857)
16. {{London Gazette. (14 December 1858)
17. {{London Gazette. (3 March 1865)
18. {{London Gazette. (6 December 1867)
19. {{London Gazette. (8 July 1881)
20. {{London Gazette. (2 April 1889)
21. {{London Gazette. (5 September 1902)
22. {{London Gazette. (10 November 1903)
23. {{London Gazette. (15 February 1907)
24. {{London Gazette. (25 April 1913)
25. {{London Gazette. (12 February 1924)
26. {{London Gazette. (28 March 1930)
27. {{London Gazette. (24 December 1946)
28. {{London Gazette. (28 April 1953)
29. {{London Gazette. (22 January 1957)
30. {{London Gazette. (21 November 1961)
31. {{London Gazette. (18 May 1965)
32. {{London Gazette. (7 August 1969)
33. {{London Gazette. (18 March 197)
34. {{London Gazette. (23 April 1974)
35. {{London Gazette. (23 August 1977)
36. {{London Gazette. (2 October 1979)
37. {{London Gazette. (13 June 1986)
38. [http://www.britainusa.com/sections/index_nt1.asp?i=41030&L1=41004&L2=41030&D=3 The British Ambassador]
39. [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-of-her-majestys-ambassador-to-the-united-states-of-america Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to the United States of America], Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 20 August 2015
40. "Sir Kim Darroch resigns as UK ambassador to US". BBC News.
41. (7 February 2020). "UK names first woman US ambassador". BBC News.
42. (10 February 2025). "UK must respect Trump's mandate, new US ambassador tells BBC". BBC News.
43. "Being US ambassador 'privilege of my life', Mandelson says, after being sacked over Epstein emails".
44. [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dr-christian-turner-cmg-appointed-as-his-majestys-ambassador-to-the-united-states-of-america UK Government, "Dr Christian Turner CMG appointed as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States of America "], 18 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.