United States Ambassador to Spain

Ambassador of the United States to Spain
Embajador de Estados Unidos en España

Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent
James Costos
since August 1, 2013
Nominator Barack Obama
Inaugural holder John Jay
as Minister Plenipotentiary
Formation September 29, 1779
Website U.S. Embassy - Madrid

This is a list of United States Ambassadors to Spain from 1779 to the present day.

Ambassadors

U.S. diplomatic terms

Career FSO
After 1915, The United States Department of State began classifying ambassadors as career Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) for those who have served in the Foreign Service for a specified amount of time.

Political appointee
A person who is not a career foreign service officer, but is appointed by the president (often as a reward to political friends).

Appointed
The date that the ambassador took the oath of office; also known as “commissioning”. It follows confirmation of a presidential appointment by the Senate, or a Congressional-recess appointment by the president. In the case of a recess appointment, the ambassador requires subsequent confirmation by the Senate.

Presented credentials
The date that the ambassador presented his letter of credence to the head of state or appropriate authority of the receiving nation. At this time the ambassador officially becomes the representative of his country. This would normally occur a short time after the ambassador’s arrival on station. The host nation may reject the ambassador by not receiving the ambassador’s letter, but this occurs only rarely.

Terminated mission
Usually the date that the ambassador left the country. In some cases a letter of recall is presented, ending the ambassador’s commission, either as a means of diplomatic protest or because the diplomat is being reassigned elsewhere and replaced by another envoy.

Chargé d'affaires
The person in charge of the business of the embassy when there is no ambassador commissioned to the host country. See chargé d'affaires.

Ad interim
Latin phrase meaning "for the time being", "in the meantime". See ad interim.

Note: In 1825 the ministry was upgraded to Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.

Note: In August 1913, the title of the office was changed to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. This required a new commission.

Note: Beginning in 1998, The ambassador to Spain was also accredited to Andorra.

Notes

  1. ↑ John Jay proceeded to post but was not formally received at court.
  2. ↑ No report has been found concerning Carmichael’s presentation of credentials as Chargé d’Affaires en titre; he had already been received as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, February 20, 1783.
  3. ↑ Pinckney was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on January 26, 1802.
  4. ↑ Bowdoin did not proceed to post.
  5. ↑ Erving served as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, October 1805–February 1810.
  6. ↑ Erving was commissioned during a recess of the United States Senate and his nomination confirmed by the Senate, October 3, 1814. His commission following confirmation not on record.
  7. ↑ Van Ness was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on February 10, 1830.
  8. ↑ Barry took the oath of office, but died en route to post. He was commissioned during a recess of the Senate.
  9. ↑ No report has been found of Eaton’s presentation of credentials, which probably took place about February 1, 1837.
  10. ↑ Barringer was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on September 28, 1850.
  11. ↑ Breckenreidge declined the appointment.
  12. ↑ Clay declined the appointment.
  13. ↑ Sickles was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on March 16, 1870.
  14. ↑ Sickles presented new credentials on February 2, 1871, after change of government
  15. ↑ Cushing presented new credentials on March 10, 1875, after restoration of monarchy.
  16. ↑ Lowell was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on October 30, 1877.
  17. ↑ Hamlin was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on October 13, 1881.
  18. ↑ Curry was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on January 13, 1886.
  19. ↑ Belmont was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on December 13, 1888.
  20. ↑ Spain severed diplomatic relations with the U.S. on April 21, 1898. Woodford left post the same day. The United States declared war on Spain as of that date by Act of Congress approved April 25, 1898.
  21. ↑ Storer was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on December 14, 1899.
  22. ↑ Hardy was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on December 8, 1902.
  23. ↑ Willard took the oath of office, but did not proceed to post under this appointment.
  24. ↑ Bowers was resident during the last part of his ambassadorship at St. Jean de Luz in France. He left that post June 14, 1939, his appointment having terminated May 14, 1939. The embassy had meanwhile been re-established in Spain on April 13, 1939, when H. Freeman Matthews had been received at Burgos as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.
  25. ↑ Bonsal was the Chargé d’Affaires, not the ambassador, March 1946–June 1947.
  26. ↑ Culbertson was the Chargé d’Affaires, not the ambassador, June 1947–December 1950.
  27. ↑ Briggs was not commissioned; his nomination withdrawn before the Senate acted upon it.
  28. ↑ McKinney took the oath of office, but did not proceed to post under this appointment.
  29. ↑ "Former U.S Government Ambassadors to Spain". Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  30. ↑ Flanigan was not commissioned; his nomination of September 17, 1974 was not acted upon by the Senate.

See also

References

External links