United States Ambassador to Russia

Ambassador of the United States of America to Russia
Посол Соединенных Штатов в России

Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent
John F. Tefft
since 31 July 2014
Residence Spaso House
Nominator Barack Obama
Inaugural holder Francis Dana
as Ambassador
Formation December 19, 1780
Website U.S. Embassy in Moscow

The Ambassador of the United States of America to the Russian Federation is the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the Russian Federation. The position is currently held by John F. Tefft, a career U.S. Foreign Service Officer who was recalled from retirement to serve his fourth ambassadorship.[1]

History

The Ambassador resides in Spaso House, the former mansion of Nikolay Vtorov.

The United States first established diplomatic relations with the Russian Empire in 1780. Diplomatic relations were broken off in 1917 when the Bolsheviks seized power, and they were not reestablished until 1933. From 1933 to 1991, the United States recognized the Soviet Union. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Ambassador's title was changed to Ambassador to Russia.

Ambassadors to the Russian Empire (1780–1917)

Name State Appointment Presentation Termination Notes
Dana, FrancisFrancis Dana Massachusetts December 19, 1780 September 1783 Proceeded to post, but was not officially received at court.
Short, WilliamWilliam Short Virginia September 8, 1808 Commissioned during a recess of the Senate. Did not proceed to post, his nomination having been rejected by the Senate while he was en route.
Adams, John QuincyJohn Quincy Adams Massachusetts June 27, 1809 November 5, 1809 April 28, 1814 Nomination of March 6, 1809 rejected by the Senate; nomination of June 26, 1809 confirmed.
James A. Bayard Delaware February 28, 1815 Did not proceed to post.
Pinkney, WilliamWilliam Pinkney Maryland March 7, 1816 January 13, 1817 February 14, 1818
Campbell, George WashingtonGeorge Washington Campbell Tennessee April 16, 1818 February 7, 1819 July 8, 1820
Middleton, HenryHenry Middleton South Carolina April 6, 1820 June 17, 1821 August 3, 1830
Randolph, JohnJohn Randolph Virginia May 26, 1830 September 19, 1830 Proceeded to post, but did not present credentials.
Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan Pennsylvania January 4, 1832 June 11, 1832 August 5, 1833
Dickerson, MahlonMahlon Dickerson New Jersey May 28, 1834 Declined appointment.
Wilkins, WilliamWilliam Wilkins Pennsylvania June 30, 1834 December 14, 1834 December 24, 1835
Clay, John RandolphJohn Randolph Clay Pennsylvania June 29, 1836 September 2, 1836 August 5, 1837
Dallas, George M.George M. Dallas Pennsylvania March 7, 1837 August 6, 1837 July 29, 1839
Churchill C. Cambreleng New York May 25, 1840 September 21, 1840 July 13, 1841 Commissioned not of record; letter of credence issued on May 25, 1840.
Todd, Charles StewartCharles Stewart Todd Kentucky August 27, 1841 November 28, 1841 January 27, 1846
Ingersoll, Ralph I.Ralph I. Ingersoll Connecticut August 8, 1846 May 30, 1847 July 1, 1848
Bagby, Arthur P.Arthur P. Bagby Alabama June 15, 1848 January 14, 1849 May 14, 1849
Brown, Neill S.Neill S. Brown Tennessee May 2, 1850 August 13, 1850 June 23, 1853
Seymour, Thomas H.Thomas H. Seymour Connecticut May 24, 1853 April 2, 1854 July 17, 1858 Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on December 6, 1853.
Pickens, Francis W.Francis W. Pickens South Carolina January 11, 1858 July 18, 1858 September 9, 1860
Appleton, JohnJohn Appleton Maine June 8, 1860 September 9, 1860 June 8, 1861
Clay, Cassius MarcellusCassius Marcellus Clay Kentucky March 28, 1861 July 14, 1861 June 25, 1862
Cameron, SimonSimon Cameron Pennsylvania January 17, 1862 June 25, 1862 September 18, 1862
Clay, Cassius MarcellusCassius Marcellus Clay Kentucky March 11, 1863 May 7, 1863 October 1, 1869
Dawson, John L.John L. Dawson Pennsylvania Not commissioned; nomination rejected by the Senate.
Smythe, Henry A.Henry A. Smythe New York Not commissioned; nomination tabled by the Senate.
Curtin, Andrew G.Andrew G. Curtin Pennsylvania April 16, 1869 October 28, 1869 July 1, 1872
Orr, James LawrenceJames Lawrence Orr South Carolina December 12, 1872 March 18, 1873 May 6, 1873
Jewell, MarshallMarshall Jewell Connecticut May 29, 1873 December 9, 1873 July 19, 1874 Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on December 10, 1873.
Boker, George H.George H. Boker Pennsylvania January 13, 1875 July 24, 1875 January 14, 1878
Stoughton, Edwin W.Edwin W. Stoughton New York October 30, 1877 January 14, 1878 March 2, 1879
Foster, John W.John W. Foster Indiana January 26, 1880 June 11, 1880 August 1, 1881
Hunt, William H.William H. Hunt Louisiana April 12, 1882 August 23, 1882 February 27, 1884 Died at post.
Sargent, Aaron AugustusAaron Augustus Sargent California Not commissioned although nomination was confirmed by the Senate.
Taft, AlphonsoAlphonso Taft Ohio July 4, 1884 September 3, 1884 July 31, 1885
Lawton, Alexander R.Alexander R. Lawton Georgia Not commissioned; nomination withdrawn before the Senate acted upon it.
Lothrop, George V. N.George V. N. Lothrop Michigan May 7, 1885 July 31, 1885 August 1, 1888 Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on January 13, 1886.
Tree, LambertLambert Tree Illinois September 25, 1888 January 4, 1889 February 2, 1889
Rice, C. Allen ThorndikeC. Allen Thorndike Rice New York March 30, 1889 Took oath of office, but died in the United States before proceeding to post.
Smith, Charles EmoryCharles Emory Smith Pennsylvania February 14, 1890 May 14, 1890 April 17, 1892
White, Andrew D.Andrew D. White New York July 22, 1892 November 7, 1892 October 1, 1894
Breckinridge, Clifton R.Clifton R. Breckinridge Arkansas July 20, 1894 November 1, 1894 December 10, 1897 Officially recognized on November 1, 1894.
Hitchcock, Ethan A.Ethan A. Hitchcock Missouri August 16, 1897 December 16, 1897 Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on December 18, 1897.
Hitchcock, Ethan A.Ethan A. Hitchcock Missouri February 11, 1898 March 21, 1898 January 28, 1899 Position upgraded to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
Tower, Jr., CharlemagneCharlemagne Tower, Jr. Pennsylvania January 12, 1899 March 19, 1899 November 19, 1902
McCormick, Robert S.Robert S. McCormick Illinois September 26, 1902 January 12, 1903 March 27, 1905 Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on December 8, 1902.
Meyer, George von LengerkeGeorge von Lengerke Meyer Massachusetts March 8, 1905 April 12, 1905 January 26, 1907
Riddle, John W.John W. Riddle Minnesota December 19, 1906 February 8, 1907 September 8, 1909
Rockhill, William WoodvilleWilliam Woodville Rockhill District of Columbia May 17, 1909 January 11, 1910 June 17, 1911
Guild, CurtisCurtis Guild Massachusetts April 24, 1911 August 17, 1911 April 24, 1913
Pindell, Henry M.Henry M. Pindell Illinois January 27, 1914 Declined appointment.
Marye, George T.George T. Marye California July 9, 1914 October 30, 1914 March 29, 1916
Francis, David R.David R. Francis Missouri March 6, 1916 May 5, 1916 November 7, 1917 Normal relations interrupted, November 7, 1917; new Government of Russia still unrecognized by the United States when Francis left Russia on November 7, 1918. He was serving as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim when Embassy in Russia was closed September 14, 1919.

Ambassadors to the Soviet Union (1933–1991)

Name State Appointment Presentation Termination Notes
Bullitt, Jr., William ChristianWilliam Christian Bullitt, Jr. Pennsylvania November 21, 1933 December 13, 1933 May 16, 1936 Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on January 15, 1934.
Davies, Joseph E.Joseph E. Davies District of Columbia November 16, 1936 January 25, 1937 June 11, 1938 Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on January 23, 1937.
Steinhardt, Laurence A.Laurence A. Steinhardt New York March 23, 1939 August 11, 1939 November 12, 1941
Standley, William H.William H. Standley California February 14, 1942 April 14, 1942 September 19, 1943
Harriman, W. AverellW. Averell Harriman New York October 7, 1943 October 23, 1943 January 24, 1946
Smith, Walter BedellWalter Bedell Smith March 22, 1946 April 3, 1946 December 25, 1948
Kirk, Alan G.Alan G. Kirk May 21, 1949 July 4, 1949 October 6, 1951
Kennan, George F.George F. Kennan Pennsylvania March 14, 1952 May 14, 1952 September 19, 1952 The Government of the Soviet Union declared Kennan persona non grata on October 3, 1952, and he did not return to his post.
Bohlen, Charles E.Charles E. Bohlen District of Columbia March 27, 1953 April 20, 1953 April 18, 1957
Thompson, LlewellynLlewellyn Thompson Colorado June 3, 1957 July 16, 1957 July 27, 1962
Kohler, Foy D.Foy D. Kohler Ohio August 20, 1962 September 27, 1962 November 14, 1966
Thompson, LlewellynLlewellyn Thompson Colorado October 13, 1966 January 23, 1967 January 14, 1969
Beam, Jacob D.Jacob D. Beam March 14, 1969 April 18, 1969 January 24, 1973 Adolph Dubs served as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim between January 1973 and March 1974.
Stoessel, Jr., Walter J.Walter J. Stoessel, Jr. December 19, 1973 March 4, 1974 September 13, 1976
Toon, MalcolmMalcolm Toon New York November 24, 1976 January 18, 1977 October 16, 1979 Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on June 8, 1977.
Watson, Jr., Thomas J.Thomas J. Watson, Jr. Connecticut October 10, 1979 October 29, 1979 January 15, 1981
Hartman, Arthur A.Arthur A. Hartman Maryland September 28, 1981 October 26, 1981 February 20, 1987
Matlock, Jr., Jack F.Jack F. Matlock, Jr. Florida March 12, 1987 April 6, 1987 August 11, 1991
Strauss, Robert S.Robert S. Strauss Texas August 2, 1991 August 24, 1991 November 19, 1992 Commissioned to the USSR - continued to serve as Ambassador to Russia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Ambassadors to the Russian Federation (1992–present)

Name State Appointment Presentation Termination Notes
Pickering, Thomas R.Thomas R. Pickering New Jersey May 12, 1993 May 21, 1993 November 1, 1996 Chargé d'Affaires ad interim: Richard M. Miles (November 1996-May 1997), and John F. Tefft (May 1997-January 1998).
Collins, James FranklinJames Franklin Collins Illinois August 1, 1996 January 26, 1998
Vershbow, AlexanderAlexander Vershbow Massachusetts 2001 2005
Burns, William JosephWilliam Joseph Burns District of Columbia August 10, 2005 2005 March 2008
Beyrle, JohnJohn Beyrle Michigan May 13, 2008 September 18, 2008 January 2012
McFaul, MichaelMichael McFaul Montana December 2011 January 2012 26 February 2014
Tefft, John FrancisJohn Francis Tefft Wisconsin July 31, 2014

Notes

  1. ↑ "Ambassador | Embassy of the United States Moscow, Russia". Retrieved September 6, 2014.

See also

References

External links

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