United States Ambassador to Hungary
Encyclopedia
This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to Hungary
Until 1867 Hungary had been part of the Austrian Empire
, when the empire became Austria-Hungary
. Hungary had no separate diplomatic relations with other nations. The United States had diplomatic relations with the empire and Austria-Hungary through the legation
in Vienna
.
The empire was dissolved following World War I
, and the United States established separate diplomatic relations with Austria and Hungary in 1921, reopening the embassy in Vienna
and establishing a legation
in Budapest
. Ulysses Grant-Smith opened the U.S. legation on December 26, 1921 and remained the chief of mission as chargé d'affaires
until an ambassador was commissioned the following year.
For ambassadors to Austria-Hungary prior to the dissolution of the empire, see United States Ambassador to Austria
.
The United States Embassy in Hungary is located on Szabadság tér (Liberty Square) in the Pest part of Budapest
.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
Until 1867 Hungary had been part of the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
, when the empire became Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
. Hungary had no separate diplomatic relations with other nations. The United States had diplomatic relations with the empire and Austria-Hungary through the legation
Legation
A legation was the term used in diplomacy to denote a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary....
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
The empire was dissolved following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and the United States established separate diplomatic relations with Austria and Hungary in 1921, reopening the embassy in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and establishing a legation
Legation
A legation was the term used in diplomacy to denote a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary....
in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. Ulysses Grant-Smith opened the U.S. legation on December 26, 1921 and remained the chief of mission as chargé d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
until an ambassador was commissioned the following year.
For ambassadors to Austria-Hungary prior to the dissolution of the empire, see United States Ambassador to Austria
United States Ambassador to Austria
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Austria.The United States first established diplomatic relations with Austria in 1838 during the time of the Austrian Empire. Relations between the United States have been continuous since that time except for two interruptions during World War...
.
The United States Embassy in Hungary is located on Szabadság tér (Liberty Square) in the Pest part of Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
.
Ambassadors
- Ulysses Grant-Smith – Career FSO
- Title: Chargé d'Affaires pro tem
- Appointed: Not commissioned
- Presented credentials: January 24, 1922
- Terminated mission: Left post, April 28, 1922
- Theodore BrentanoTheodore BrentanoTheodore Brentano was an American attorney and judge and the first U.S. ambassador to Hungary . He was appointed to the position by Warren G. Harding....
– Political appointee- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 10, 1922
- Presented credentials: May 16, 1922
- Terminated mission: Presented recall, May 6, 1927
- J. Butler WrightJ. Butler WrightJoshua Butler Wright was a United States diplomat who served as the representative of the US in Hungary, Uruguay, Czechoslovakia, and Cuba....
– Career FSO- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 26, 1927
- Presented credentials: June 18, 1927
- Terminated mission: Presented recall, October 24, 1930
- Nicholas RooseveltNicholas Roosevelt (diplomat)Nicholas Roosevelt was an American diplomat and journalist. A member of the Roosevelt family and first-cousin once removed of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, he was born in New York City to James West Roosevelt, a brother of Hilborne Roosevelt, and Laura Henrietta d'Oremieulx...
– Political appointee- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 29, 1930
- Presented credentials: November 12, 1930
- Terminated mission: Left post, May 9, 1933
- John Flournoy MontgomeryJohn Flournoy MontgomeryJohn Flournoy Montgomery was an American businessman and diplomat. His sole diplomatic posting was as U.S. Minister to Hungary, between 1933 and 1941...
– Political appointee- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 13, 1933
- Presented credentials: August 1, 1933
- Terminated mission: Left post, March 17, 1941
- Herbert Claiborne PellHerbert PellHerbert Claiborne Pell, Jr. was a United States Representative from New York, U.S. Minister to Portugal, U.S. Minister to Hungary, and an instigator and member of the United Nations War Crimes Commission....
– Political appointee- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 11, 1941
- Presented credentials: May 20, 1941
- Terminated mission: Left post, January 16, 1942
- Note: Hungary severed diplomatic relations with the United States on December 11, 1941, the same day on which the United States declared war on Germany. Hungary declared war on the United States two days later, December 13. Ambassador Pell closed the legation and departed Hungary on January 16, 1942. The United States and Hungary again established normal diplomatic relations after the war in 1945.
- H.F. Arthur Schoenfeld – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: December 15, 1945
- Presented credentials: January 26, 1946
- Terminated mission: Left post, June 1, 1947
- Selden ChapinSelden ChapinSelden Chapin was a career foreign service officer and United States diplomat.-Biography:Selden Chapin was born at Erie, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1919 and served in the U.S. Navy from 1919 to 1925. He married Mary Paul Noyes, March 30, 1927.He was...
– Career FSO- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: April 10, 1947
- Presented credentials: July 9, 1947
- Terminated mission: Left post February 17, 1949
- Nathaniel P. Davis – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 1, 1949
- Presented credentials: October 21, 1949
- Terminated mission: Left post, May 18, 1951
- Christian M. Ravndal – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 3, 1951
- Presented credentials: January 11, 1952
- Terminated mission: Left post, August 5, 1956
- Edward T. WailesEdward T. WailesEdward Thompson Wailes was a United States diplomat.-Biography:Edward T. Wailes was born in Brooklyn on February 16, 1903. He was educated at Princeton University, receiving a B.A. in 1925 and Columbia Law School, graduating in 1927....
– Career FSO- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 26, 1956
- Presented credentials: Did not present credentials
- Terminated mission: left post, February 27, 1957
- Note: Ambassador Wailes had been commissioned as ambassador during the Imre NagyImre NagyImre Nagy was a Hungarian communist politician who was appointed Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the People's Republic of Hungary on two occasions...
regime in Hungary, prior to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. The ambassador arrived in Hungary on November 2, 1956, shortly after the new János KádárJános KádárJános Kádár was a Hungarian communist leader and the General Secretary of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party, presiding over the country from 1956 until his forced retirement in 1988. His thirty-two year term as General Secretary makes Kádár the longest ruler of the People's Republic of Hungary...
government had been installed. Upon Wailes’ arrival in Hungary, he refused to present his credentials to the new government, stating that the government “did not represent the people.” Shortly thereafter he was “recalled for consultations” and left Hungary on February 27, 1957.
- Note: From 1957 until 1967, no ambassador was commissioned to Hungary. The following persons served as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim.
- Garret G. Ackerson, Jr. (July 1957–February 1961)
- Horace G. Torbert, Jr. (February 1961–December 1962)
- Owen T. Jones (December 1962–July 1964)
- Elim O'Shaughnessy (November 1964–September 1966)
- Richard W. Tims (September 1966–October 1967)
- Note: LegationLegationA legation was the term used in diplomacy to denote a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary....
Budapest was raised to embassy status on November 28, 1966. As a result the U.S. representative would bear the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
- Martin J. HillenbrandMartin J. HillenbrandMartin Joseph Hillenbrand was an American diplomat who served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany from 1972 to 1976.-Career:...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 13, 1967
- Presented credentials: October 30, 1967
- Terminated mission: Left post, February 15, 1969
- Alfred Puhan – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 1, 1969
- Presented credentials: June 16, 1969
- Terminated mission: Left post, July 9, 1973
- Richard F. PedersenRichard F. PedersenRichard Foote Pedersen was a career United States State Department employee, veteran of WWII & President of the American University of Cairo.-Early life:...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 24, 1973
- Presented credentials: September 10, 1973
- Terminated mission: Left post, March 26, 1975
- Eugene V. McAuliffe – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: March 25, 1975
- Presented credentials: April 28, 1975
- Terminated mission: Left post, April 15, 1976
- Philip M. KaiserPhilip Mayer Kaiser-Education:Born in New York City, Kaiser graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1935. He was also a Rhodes Scholar in 1936 at Balliol College. During this time, he studied labor history.-Family:...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 7, 1977
- Presented credentials: August 4, 1977
- Terminated mission: Left post, March 9, 1980
- Harry E. Bergold, Jr. – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: March 3, 1980
- Presented credentials: March 31, 1980
- Terminated mission: Left post, November 9, 1983
- Nicolas M. Salgo – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 7, 1983
- Presented credentials: November 23, 1983
- Terminated mission: Left post, August 1, 1986
- Robie Marcus Hooker Palmer – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 24, 1986
- Presented credentials: December 8, 1986
- Terminated mission: Left post, January 31, 1990
- Charles H. Thomas – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 27, 1990
- Presented credentials: July 2, 1990
- Terminated mission: Left post, January 11, 1994
- Donald M. Blinken – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: March 28, 1994
- Presented credentials: April 1, 1994
- Terminated mission: Left post, November 20, 1997
- Peter Francis TufoPeter TufoPeter Francis Tufo was the U.S. Ambassador to Hungary from 1997–2001 and helped found the law firm Tufo, Johnston & Zuccotti in 1970.- Biography :...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 10, 1997
- Presented credentials: December 3, 1997
- Terminated mission: Left post March 1, 2001
- Nancy Goodman BrinkerNancy BrinkerNancy Goodman Brinker is the founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization named after her only sister, Susan, who died from breast cancer in 1980 at age 36. Brinker was also United States Ambassador to Hungary from 2001 to 2003 and Chief of Protocol of the United States from...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: August 7, 2001
- Presented credentials: September 26, 2001
- Terminated mission: Left post June 19, 2003
- George H. Walker IIIGeorge Herbert Walker IIIGeorge Herbert Walker III , commonly known as Bert Walker, is a former U.S. ambassador to Hungary and the first cousin of former President George Herbert Walker Bush....
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: August 4, 2003
- Presented credentials: October 6, 2003
- Terminated mission: Left post August 6, 2006
- April H. Foley – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 30, 2006
- Presented credentials: August 18, 2006
- Terminated mission: Left post April 2, 2009
- Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: January 7, 2010
- Presented credentials: January 11, 2010
- Terminated mission: Incumbent
See also
- Ambassadors to Hungary — Photographs of U.S. Ambassadors to Hungary 1941–2001 (PDF)
- Hungary – United States relations
- Foreign relations of HungaryForeign relations of HungaryExcept for the short-lived neutrality declared by the anti-Soviet leader Imre Nagy in November 1956, Hungary's foreign policy generally followed the Soviet lead from 1947 to 1989. During the Communist period, Hungary maintained treaties of friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance with the...
- Ambassadors of the United States