List of ambassadors of the United Kingdom to the United States - wikipedia List of ambassadors of the United Kingdom to the United States Her Majesty 's Ambassador to the United States Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom Incumbent Sir Kim Darroch since January 2016 Style His Excellency Residence Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, D.C. Inaugural holder George Hammond First Envoy extraordinary to US Julian Pauncefote, 1st Baron Pauncefote First Ambassador extraordinary to US Formation 1791 Envoys extraordinary 1893 Ambassadors extraordinary Website UK and United States of America The British Ambassador to the United States is in charge of the British Embassy, Washington, D.C., the United Kingdom 's diplomatic mission to the United States. The official title is Her Majesty 's Ambassador to the United States of America. The ambassador 's residence is on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, D.C. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and built in 1928. Contents 1 Duties 2 History 3 Heads of mission 3.1 Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary ( 1791 -- 1893 ) 3.2 Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary ( from 1893 ) 4 Ambassadors in fiction 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Duties The position of ambassador to the United States is considered to be one of the most important posts in Her Majesty 's Diplomatic Service, along with those of Permanent Representative to the European Union and Permanent Under - Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth 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. He serves as the primary channel of communication between the two nations, and plays 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, he is ultimately responsible for visa services and for the provision of consular support to British citizens in America. He also oversees 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 to 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 was offered to three former Prime Ministers : the Earl of Rosebery, David Lloyd George and Sir Edward Heath, all of whom declined. Heads of mission Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary ( 1791 -- 1893 ) George Hammond 1791 -- 1795 : George Hammond 1796 -- 1800 : Sir Robert Liston 1803 -- 1806 : Anthony Merry 1807 -- 1809 : Hon. David Erskine 1809 -- 1811 : Francis Jackson 1811 -- 1812 : Sir Augustus Foster 1812 -- 1815 : No representation due to the War of 1812 1815 -- 1820 : 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 : Lord Napier 1858 -- 1865 : Lord Lyons 1865 -- 1867 : Sir Frederick Bruce 1867 -- 1881 : Sir Edward Thornton 1881 -- 1888 : Hon. Lionel Sackville - West 1889 -- 1893 : Sir Julian Pauncefote Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary ( from 1893 ) 1893 -- 1902 : Sir Julian Pauncefote ( Lord Pauncefote from 1899 ) 1902 -- 1903 : 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 : 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 : Viscount Halifax 1946 -- 1948 : Lord Inverchapel 1948 -- 1952 : Sir Oliver Franks 1953 -- 1956 : Sir Roger Makins 1956 -- 1961 : Sir Harold Caccia 1961 -- 1965 : Hon. Sir David Ormsby - Gore 1965 -- 1969 : Sir Patrick Dean 1969 -- 1971 : Rt. Hon. John Freeman 1971 -- 1974 : The Earl of Cromer 1974 -- 1977 : Hon. Sir Peter Ramsbotham 1977 -- 1979 : 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 -- 2016 : Sir Peter Westmacott 2016 -- present : Sir Kim Darroch Ambassadors in fiction Sir Everard Everett, in Wodehouse 's Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit Lord John Marbury, in NBC 's The West Wing. Sir Mark Brydon, in the BBC 's The State Within. Lord Standish, in the film Sherlock Holmes See also United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Canadian ambassadors to the United States - replacing the role of the British Ambassador to the US ( and Foreign Secretary of State for the Colonies ) in dealing with diplomatic relations for Canada after 1926 References Jump up ^ `` No. 12625 ''. The London Gazette. 26 February 1785. p. 109. Jump up ^ Theakston, Kevin ( May 2010 ). `` What next for Gordon Brown ? ''. United Kingdom : History & Policy. Retrieved 9 December 2010. Jump up ^ `` No. 13874 ''. The London Gazette. 12 March 1796. p. 249. Jump up ^ `` No. 15553 ''. The London Gazette. 25 January 1803. p. 114. Jump up ^ `` No. 15938 ''. The London Gazette. 19 July 1806. p. 897. Jump up ^ `` No. 16260 ''. The London Gazette. 23 May 1809. p. 736. Jump up ^ `` No. 17020 ''. The London Gazette. 6 June 1815. p. 1076. Jump up ^ `` No. 17617 ''. The London Gazette. 22 July 1820. p. 1430. Jump up ^ `` No. 18121 ''. The London Gazette. 26 March 1825. p. 513. Jump up ^ `` No. 19310 ''. The London Gazette. 25 September 1835. p. 1791. Jump up ^ `` No. 20279 ''. The London Gazette. 14 November 1843. p. 3705. Jump up ^ `` No. 20972 ''. The London Gazette. 27 April 1849. p. 1378. Jump up ^ `` No. 21284 ''. The London Gazette. 23 January 1852. p. 183. Jump up ^ `` No. 21961 ''. The London Gazette. 23 January 1857. p. 239. Jump up ^ `` No. 22209 ''. The London Gazette. 14 December 1858. p. 5415. Jump up ^ `` No. 22945 ''. The London Gazette. 3 March 1865. p. 1324. Jump up ^ `` No. 23330 ''. The London Gazette. 6 December 1867. p. 6704. Jump up ^ `` No. 24994 ''. The London Gazette. 8 July 1881. p. 8404. Jump up ^ `` No. 25917 ''. The London Gazette. 2 April 1889. p. 1863. Jump up ^ `` No. 27471 ''. The London Gazette. 5 September 1902. p. 5751. Jump up ^ `` No. 27614 ''. The London Gazette. 10 November 1903. p. 6854. Jump up ^ `` No. 27995 ''. The London Gazette. 15 February 1907. p. 1065. Jump up ^ `` No. 28713 ''. The London Gazette. 25 April 1913. p. 2975. Jump up ^ `` No. 32907 ''. The London Gazette. 12 February 1924. p. 1265. Jump up ^ `` No. 33592 ''. The London Gazette. 28 March 1930. p. 1960. Jump up ^ `` No. 37828 ''. The London Gazette. 24 December 1946. p. 6253. Jump up ^ `` No. 39838 ''. The London Gazette. 28 April 1953. p. 2357. Jump up ^ `` No. 40981 ''. The London Gazette. 22 January 1957. p. 502. Jump up ^ `` No. 42519 ''. The London Gazette. 21 November 1961. p. 8445. Jump up ^ `` No. 43654 ''. The London Gazette. 18 May 1965. p. 4861. Jump up ^ `` No. 44912 ''. The London Gazette. 7 August 1969. p. 8127. Jump up ^ `` No. 45324 ''. The London Gazette. 18 March 197. p. 2389. Check date values in : date = ( help ) Jump up ^ `` No. 46272 ''. The London Gazette. 23 April 1974. p. 5068. Jump up ^ `` No. 47308 ''. The London Gazette. 23 August 1977. p. 10881. Jump up ^ `` No. 47968 ''. The London Gazette. 2 October 1979. p. 47968. Jump up ^ `` No. 50551 ''. The London Gazette. 13 June 1986. p. 3. Jump up ^ The British Ambassador Jump up ^ Change of Her Majesty 's Ambassador to the United States of America, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 20 August 2015 External links UK and United States of America, gov.uk Lists of heads of diplomatic missions of the United Kingdom Ambassadors Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Belarus Belgium Bolivia Bosnia - Herzegovina Brazil Bulgaria Burma Cambodia Chile China Colombia DR Congo Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Czech Republic Denmark Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Guatemala Guinea Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary Iceland Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Ivory Coast Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Korea, DPR Korea, RO Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Madagascar Mali Mexico Moldova Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Nepal Netherlands Nicaragua Norway Oman Panama Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russia Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Somalia South Sudan Spain Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syria Tajikistan Thailand Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Ukraine United Arab Emirates United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zimbabwe High commissioners Australia Bahamas Bangladesh Barbados Belize Botswana Brunei Cameroon Canada Cyprus Fiji The Gambia Ghana Guyana India Jamaica Kenya Malawi Malaysia Malta Mauritius Mozambique Namibia New Zealand Nigeria Pakistan Papua New Guinea Rwanda Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Solomon Islands South Africa Sri Lanka Tanzania Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Uganda Zambia Consuls - general Boston Hong Kong and Macao Jerusalem Los Angeles New York San Francisco Shanghai Permanent representatives United Nations in New York United Nations in Geneva Council of Europe European Union NATO OECD OSCE Conference on Disarmament Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_ambassadors_of_the_United_Kingdom_to_the_United_States&oldid=808948696 '' Categories : Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to the United States Lists of ambassadors of the United Kingdom Lists of ambassadors to the United States United Kingdom -- United States relations Hidden categories : CS1 : Julian -- Gregorian uncertainty CS1 errors : dates Use dmy dates from November 2015 Use British English from November 2015 Articles containing potentially dated statements from January 2016 All articles containing potentially dated statements Use dmy dates from September 2016 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Italiano 日本 語 Polski Русский Edit links This page was last edited on 6 November 2017, at 05 : 54. 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Question: british ambassador to the us from 1961 to 65
Answer: Hon. Sir David Ormsby-Gore