List of ambassadors of the United States to Switzerland and Liechtenstein explained

Post:Ambassador
Body:the United States to Switzerland and Liechtenstein
Insignia:US Department of State official seal.svg
Insigniasize:120
Insigniacaption:Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent:Scott Miller
Incumbentsince:January 11, 2022
Nominator:The President of the United States
Appointer:The President
Appointer Qualified:with Senate advice and consent
Inaugural:Theodore Sedgwick Fay
as Minister Resident
Formation:March 16, 1853
Website:U.S. Embassy - Bern

This is a list of United States ambassadors to the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein.[1]

History

Since 1997, the U.S. ambassador to Switzerland has also been accredited to the Principality of Liechtenstein. Appointed on February 10, 1997, Ambassador Madeleine M. Kunin served as the first United States Ambassador to Liechtenstein.[2] She presented her credentials to Liechtenstein on March 14, 1997, which marked the beginning of the United States' diplomatic relations with the country.[3]

Although the United States executed its first treaty with Liechtenstein in 1926, at the time, and until 1997, Liechtenstein was represented diplomatically by Switzerland.[4]

Before 1997 it was understood that the rights of a U.S.–Swiss agreement also extended to citizens of Liechtenstein because it had yielded control of its foreign affairs to Switzerland. At the end of the 20th century, however, it "began pursuing independent membership in international organizations".

Political appointees

U.S. ambassadors are nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.[5] The position of ambassador to Switzerland is generally held by a political appointee rather than a career Foreign Service Officer (FSO). According to the American Foreign Service Association, only two career FSOs since 1960 have been appointed to the Swiss and Liechtenstein ambassadorship (both times were in the 1970s), whereas the remaining twenty ambassadors were political appointees, typically those known as "campaign bundlers" who raise large sums of money for presidential campaigns.[6]

List of ambassadors

Name Background Title Appointment Presentation of credentials Termination of mission
Theodore Sedgwick FayForeign Service officerMinister ResidentMarch 16, 1853June 29, 1853Presented recall, July 1, 1861
George G. FoggNon-career appointeeMinister ResidentMarch 28, 1861July 1, 1861Presented recall, October 16, 1865
George HarringtonNon-career appointeeMinister ResidentJuly 7, 1865October 16, 1865Presented recall, July 20, 1869
Horace RubleeNon-career appointeeMinister ResidentApril 20, 1869July 20, 1869Presented recall, September 7, 1876
Horace RubleeNon-career appointeeChargé d'affairesAugust 15, 1876September 7, 1876Left post October 1, 1876
George SchneiderNon-career appointeeChargé d'affairesMay 1, 1877
Nicholas Fish IIForeign Service officerChargé d'affairesJun 20, 1877August 7, 1877Presented recall, August 24, 1881
Michael J. CramerNon-career appointeeChargé d'affairesMay 11, 1881Aug 25, 1881Promoted to Minister Resident/Consul General
Michael J. CramerNon-career appointeeMinister Resident/Consul GeneralJul 13, 1882Aug 14, 1882Presented recall, Jul 9, 1885
Boyd WinchesterNon-career appointeeMinister Resident/Consul GeneralMay 7, 1885Jul 9, 1885Presented recall, May 24, 1889
John D. WashburnNon-career appointeeMinister Resident/Consul GeneralMar 12, 1889May 24, 1889Promoted to Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
John D. WashburnNon-career appointeeEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryJul 30, 1890Dec 13, 1890Left post Aug 10, 1892
Person Colby CheneyNon-career appointeeEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryDec 13, 1892Jan 26, 1893Presented recall, Jan 29, 1893
James BroadheadNon-career appointeeEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryApr 7, 1893Jul 5, 1893Appointment terminated, Nov 1, 1895
John L. PeakNon-career appointeeEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryNov 18, 1895Feb 15, 1896Presented recall, Aug 9, 1897
John George Alexander LeishmanNon-career appointeeEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryJun 9, 1897Aug 9, 1897Presented recall, Feb 20, 1901
Arthur Sherburne HardyNon-career appointeeEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryDec 20, 1900Apr 3, 1901Presented recall, Jan 29, 1903
Charles Page BryanForeign Service officerEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiarySep 26, 1902
Charles Page BryanForeign Service officerEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryDec 8, 1902
David Jayne HillForeign Service officerEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryJan 7, 1903Feb 24, 1903Presented recall, Jul 1, 1905
Brutus J. Clay IIForeign Service officerEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryMar 8, 1905Jul 1, 1905Superseded, Mar 1, 1910
Laurits S. SwensonForeign Service officerEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryDec 21, 1909Mar 1, 1910Presented recall, May 15, 1911
Henry Sherman BoutellNon-career appointeeEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryApr 24, 1911May 23, 1911Presented recall, Jul 31, 1913
Pleasant A. StovallNon-career appointeeEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryJun 21, 1913Aug 23, 1913Left post Dec 14, 1919
Hampson GaryNon-career appointeeEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryApr 7, 1920Jun 3, 1920Left post about Mar 4, 1921
Joseph GrewForeign Service OfficerEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiarySep 24, 1921Nov 1, 1921Left post Mar 22, 1924
Hugh S. GibsonForeign Service officerEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryMar 18, 1924May 19, 1924Presented recall, Apr 29, 1927
Hugh R. WilsonForeign Service officerEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryFeb 26, 1927Jun 11, 1927Left post Jul 8, 1937
Leland B. HarrisonForeign Service officerEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryJul 13, 1937Sep 10, 1937Left post Oct 14, 1947
John Carter VincentForeign Service officerEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryJul 24, 1947Oct 21, 1947Left post Jun 9, 1951
Richard Cunningham Patterson Jr.Non-career appointeeEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryMar 22, 1951Jun 27, 1951Left post Apr 14, 1953
Frances E. WillisForeign Service officerAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJul 20, 1953Oct 9, 1953Left post May 5, 1957
Henry J. TaylorNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMay 9, 1957May 31, 1957Left post Feb 28, 1961
Robert M. McKinneyNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJun 22, 1961Jul 25, 1961Left post Sep 8, 1963
W. True Davis Jr.Non-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryOct 2, 1963Nov 29, 1963Left post Sep 3, 1965
John S. HayesNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySep 19, 1966Nov 18, 1966Left post May 20, 1969
Shelby Cullom DavisNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMay 13, 1969Jul 17, 1969Left post Apr 10, 1975
Peter H. DominickNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryFeb 20, 1975Apr 25, 1975Left post Jul 10, 1975
Nathaniel DavisForeign Service officerAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryNov 20, 1975Jan 9, 1976Left post Jul 31, 1977
Marvin L. WarnerNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJul 11, 1977Sep 13, 1977Left post Jul 10, 1979
Richard David VineForeign Service officerAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySep 20, 1979Oct 19, 1979Left post Sep 1, 1981
Faith WhittleseyNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySep 28, 1981Oct 23, 1981Left post Feb 28, 1983
John Davis LodgeNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMar 18, 1983May 19, 1983Left post Apr 30, 1985
Faith WhittleseyNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryApr 4, 1985May 31, 1985Left post Jun 14, 1988
Philip D. WinnNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJul 11, 1988Aug 19, 1988Left post Aug 5, 1989
Joseph Bernard GildenhornNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAug 3, 1989Aug 23, 1989Left post Mar 1, 1993
The following officers served as Chargés d'affaires ad interim (1993–94): John E. Hall (Mar–Aug 1993), Brian M. Flora (Aug–Dec 1993), Michael C. Polt (Dec 1993–Mar 1994), and Jeffrey R. Cellars (July 22, 2013 - June 2, 2014)
M. Larry LawrenceNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryFeb 9, 1994Mar 21, 1994Died at post Jan 9, 1996
Madeleine M. KuninNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAug 8, 1996Aug 19, 1996Left post Aug 16, 1999
J. Richard FredericksNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryOct 29, 1999Dec 2, 1999Left post Jul 6, 2001
Mercer ReynoldsNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAug 3, 2001Sep 11, 2001Left post Mar 29, 2003
Pamela WillefordNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryOct 7, 2003Nov 25, 2003Left post May 6, 2006
Peter R. ConewayNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySept 6, 2006Oct 19, 2006Dec 7, 2008
Donald S. Beyer Jr.Non-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAugust 5, 2009August 15, 2009May 29, 2013
Suzan G. LeVineNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJune 2, 2014July 1, 2014January 20, 2017[7]
Ed McMullenNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryNovember 2, 2017November 21, 2017January 17, 2021
Scott MillerNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryDecember 18, 2021January 11, 2022

Recess appointments

The following were commissioned during a Senate recess and thus were recommissioned after their post-recess confirmations.

Other cases

Theodore Sedgwick Fay was nominated to be Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary on February 25, 1856, but his nomination was withdrawn before the Senate acted on it. George Schneider was commissioned during a Senate recess and he took the oath of office but did not proceed to post.

See also

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History: The U.S. Ambassadors in Switzerland. 25 July 2014. Embassy of the United States Bern, Switzerland.
  2. News: Kunin To Add Liechtenstein to Diplomatic Portfolio. 14 January 1997. Associated Press News.
  3. Web site: Madeleine May Kunin (1933–). 25 July 2014. U.S. State Department Office of the Historian.
  4. Web site: A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, Since 1776: Liechtenstein. 25 July 2014. U.S. Department of State Office of the Historian.
  5. [United States]
  6. News: Obama fundraiser Suzi LeVine nominated as envoy to Switzerland. Brunner. Jim. 6 February 2014. The Seattle Times.
  7. Web site: US ambassador to leave on presidential inauguration day. November 22, 2016 .

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