Embassy of the United States in Vienna
Encyclopedia
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...
is the main United States diplomatic mission to Austria. The embassy building is located at Boltzmanngasse 16, Alsergrund
Alsergrund
Alsergrund is the ninth district of Vienna, Austria . It is located just north of the first, central district, Innere Stadt. Alsergrund was incorporated in 1862, with seven suburbs. The area is densely populated, with a lot of government-built housing. According to the census of 2001, there were...
, 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 United States first established diplomatic relations with Austria in 1838 during the time 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...
, with Henry A. P. Muhlenberg
Henry A. P. Muhlenberg
Henry Augustus Philip Muhlenberg was an American political leader and diplomat. He was a member of the Muhlenberg Family political dynasty....
as first U.S. Minister to the empire. In 1867 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...
and the Ministers were so commissioned. 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....
officially became an embassy in 1902, with Robert S. McCormick as first U.S. Ambassador to Austria-Hungary.
When the United States broke off diplomatic relations with Austria-Hungary during World War I in 1917, Spain handled the representation of U.S. interests in Vienna for the duration of the war. In 1921 the U.S. diplomatic mission reopened as a legation.
The embassy building at Boltzmanngasse 16 was constructed from 1902 to 1904 by architect Ludwig Baumann, as the new location of the Imperial and Royal Oriental Academy in Vienna. At the conclusion of World War II, U.S. military occupied the building until 1946. On June 30, 1947 the U.S. Government purchased the building. The U.S. Mission in Austria held the status of Legation from 1947 until 1951, when it officially became an Embassy, with Walter J. Donnelly as the first U.S. ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to serve in Vienna since World War I.
The current U.S. 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...
is William Eacho
William Eacho
William Carlton Eacho, III is the United States Ambassador to Austria. Eacho was nominated by President Barack Obama in June 2009. He was confirmed by the US Senate and sworn in in August 2009. He succeeded David F...
, who presented his credentials to the Austrian president Heinz Fischer
Heinz Fischer
Heinz Fischer GColIH is the President of Austria. He took office on 8 July 2004 and was re-elected for a second and last term on 25 April 2010. Before he took office, Fischer was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria...
, on September 14, 2009.