List of Ambassadors from the United Kingdom to Iceland
Encyclopedia
The Ambassador from the United Kingdom to Iceland is the United Kingdom
's foremost diplomatic representative
in Iceland
, and in charge of the UK's diplomatic mission
in Iceland. His official title is Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Iceland.
Both the British embassy and the ambassador's residence are in Reykjavík
. The British embassy shares a site and several common facilities with the German
embassy.
was a part of the Kingdom of Denmark
. On 9 April 1940, Nazi Germany
invaded Denmark. Immediately, Iceland declared itself responsible for its own foreign affairs, and declared strict neutrality
.
To prevent the emergence of a pro-Nazi government in Reykjavík, and help fight the Battle of the Atlantic, the United Kingdom occupied Iceland on 10 May 1940. With the British troops that arrived came, Charles Smith arrived as the diplomatic envoy to the Icelandic government. Smith died in his post in 1942, and was replaced by Sir Edward Shepherd the following year. In 1944, still at the height of the war, Iceland declared its full independence from Denmark, and Shepherd was promoted to full ambassador.
Although the diplomatic mission in Iceland is not a large one, nor particularly prestigious, its importance during the Cold War
was disproportionate, due to its strategic location in the North Atlantic. More crucial to British interests was the string of diplomatic and economic disputes related to fishing rights, which culminated in the Cod War
s.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's foremost diplomatic representative
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, and in charge of the UK's diplomatic mission
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
in Iceland. His official title is Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Iceland.
Both the British embassy and the ambassador's residence are in Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
. The British embassy shares a site and several common facilities with the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
embassy.
History
The first Ambassador to Iceland was appointed during the Second World War. At the time, IcelandIceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
was a part of the Kingdom of Denmark
Kingdom of Denmark
The Kingdom of Denmark or the Danish Realm , is a constitutional monarchy and sovereign state consisting of Denmark proper in northern Europe and two autonomous constituent countries, the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic and Greenland in North America. Denmark is the hegemonial part, where the...
. On 9 April 1940, Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
invaded Denmark. Immediately, Iceland declared itself responsible for its own foreign affairs, and declared strict neutrality
Neutral country
A neutral power in a particular war is a sovereign state which declares itself to be neutral towards the belligerents. A non-belligerent state does not need to be neutral. The rights and duties of a neutral power are defined in Sections 5 and 13 of the Hague Convention of 1907...
.
To prevent the emergence of a pro-Nazi government in Reykjavík, and help fight the Battle of the Atlantic, the United Kingdom occupied Iceland on 10 May 1940. With the British troops that arrived came, Charles Smith arrived as the diplomatic envoy to the Icelandic government. Smith died in his post in 1942, and was replaced by Sir Edward Shepherd the following year. In 1944, still at the height of the war, Iceland declared its full independence from Denmark, and Shepherd was promoted to full ambassador.
Although the diplomatic mission in Iceland is not a large one, nor particularly prestigious, its importance during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
was disproportionate, due to its strategic location in the North Atlantic. More crucial to British interests was the string of diplomatic and economic disputes related to fishing rights, which culminated in the Cod War
Cod War
The Cod Wars, also called the Icelandic Cod Wars , were a series of confrontations in the 1950s and 1970s between the United Kingdom and Iceland regarding fishing rights in the North Atlantic....
s.
Political representatives in Iceland
- Charles Howard Smith (1940–1942)
- Sir Edward Shepherd (1943–1944)
Ambassadors to Iceland
- Sir Edward Shepherd (1944–1947)
- Charles Baxter (1947–1950)
- John Greenway (1950–1953)
- James Henderson (1953–1956)
- Andrew GilchristAndrew GilchristSir Andrew Graham Gilchrist, KCMG was a Special Operations Executive operative and later a UK ambassador.-Early career in Foreign Office and SOE:...
(1956–1959) - Andrew Stewart (1959–1962)
- Basil Boothby (1962–1965)
- Aubrey Halford-MacLeod (1965–1970)
- John McKenzie (1970–1975)
- Kenneth East (1975–1981)
- William McQuillan (1981–1983)
- Richard Thomas (1983–1986)
- Mark Chapman (1986–1989)
- Sir Richard Best (1989–1991)
- Patrick Wogan (1991–1993)
- Michael Hone (1993–1996)
- James McCulloch (1996–2000)
- John Culver (2001–2004)
- Alp MehmetAlp MehmetAlp Mehmet is a former British diplomat and one of the United Kingdom's first two ethnic minority ambassadors, along with Anwar Choudhury....
(2004–2008) - Ian Whitting (2008 -)