United States Ambassador to Norway
Encyclopedia
Prior to 1905, Sweden
and Norway
were politically united. The United States Ambassador to Sweden
thus was the US representative for Norway as well as Sweden. In 1905 Sweden and Norway peacefully separated and Norway became an independent constitutional monarchy
. On November 14, 1905, the US State Department
instructed Ambassador Charles H. Graves
to handle affairs for Sweden and Norway separately and the Ambassador was thus commissioned to Norway equally with Sweden, though he remained in Stockholm
.
On June 22, 1906, Herbert H. D. Peirce
was appointed to be the first ambassador of the US appointed specifically solely for Norway. On August 6, 1906, the embassy in Stockholm ceased all functions related to Norway. Peirce presented his credentials to the foreign minister of Norway on August 13, 1906.
Note: During the German occupation of Norway in WWII, the government of Norway fled to England and set up a government-in-exile in London. The United States maintained diplomatic relations with Norway during the war, with the ambassador staying in London near the government offices.
Note: The title of the office was changed to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary on May 12, 1942. This required a new appointment and commission.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
were politically united. The United States Ambassador to Sweden
United States Ambassador to Sweden
The United States Ambassador to Sweden serves as the chief representative of the United States Foreign Service to the Kingdom of Sweden, and 1814 to 1905, also to Norway, which was politically aligned with Sweden...
thus was the US representative for Norway as well as Sweden. In 1905 Sweden and Norway peacefully separated and Norway became an independent constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
. On November 14, 1905, the US State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
instructed Ambassador Charles H. Graves
Charles H. Graves
Charles Hinman "C. H." Graves was an American army officer, politician, and diplomat.-Military:Hinman was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. After the outbreak of the Civil War, he joined the Army of the Potomac as a Sergeant...
to handle affairs for Sweden and Norway separately and the Ambassador was thus commissioned to Norway equally with Sweden, though he remained in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
.
On June 22, 1906, Herbert H. D. Peirce
Herbert H. D. Peirce
Herbert Henry Davis Peirce was a United States diplomat who served as Third Assistant Secretary of State from 1901 to 1906 and as U.S. Ambassador to Norway from 1906 to 1911.-Biography:...
was appointed to be the first ambassador of the US appointed specifically solely for Norway. On August 6, 1906, the embassy in Stockholm ceased all functions related to Norway. Peirce presented his credentials to the foreign minister of Norway on August 13, 1906.
Ambassadors
- Charles H. GravesCharles H. GravesCharles Hinman "C. H." Graves was an American army officer, politician, and diplomat.-Military:Hinman was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. After the outbreak of the Civil War, he joined the Army of the Potomac as a Sergeant...
- Appointed: March 8, 1905
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: May 31, 1905
- Terminated mission: Terminated functions with respect to Norway, August 6, 1906
- Herbert H. D. PeirceHerbert H. D. PeirceHerbert Henry Davis Peirce was a United States diplomat who served as Third Assistant Secretary of State from 1901 to 1906 and as U.S. Ambassador to Norway from 1906 to 1911.-Biography:...
- Appointed: June 22, 1906
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: August 13, 1906
- Terminated mission: Presented recall, May 30, 1911
- Laurits S. Swenson
- Appointed: April 27, 1911
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: June 10, 1911
- Terminated mission: Presented recall, October 4, 1913
- Albert G. SchmedemanAlbert G. SchmedemanAlbert George Schmedeman was an American politician who served as the 28th Governor of Wisconsin. To date he is the only mayor of Madison to be elected Governor of Wisconsin.-Biography:...
– Political appointee- Appointed: July 21, 1913
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: October 4, 1913
- Terminated mission: Left post July 29, 1921
- Laurits S. Swenson – Political appointee
- Appointed: October 8, 1921
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: November 28, 1921
- Terminated mission: Left post November 9, 1930
- Hoffman Philip – Career FSO
- Appointed: July 22, 1930
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: November 15, 1930
- Terminated mission: Left post August 3, 1935
- Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr.Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr.Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr. , also known as A. J. Drexel Biddle, Jr. or Tony Biddle, was a wealthy socialite who became a diplomat of the United States, and served in the United States Army during World War I and after World War II, reaching the rank of major general.-Biography:Biddle was the...
– Political appointee- Appointed: July 22, 1935
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: September 7, 1935
- Terminated mission: Left post May 21, 1937
Note: During the German occupation of Norway in WWII, the government of Norway fled to England and set up a government-in-exile in London. The United States maintained diplomatic relations with Norway during the war, with the ambassador staying in London near the government offices.
- Florence Jaffray HarrimanFlorence Jaffray HarrimanFlorence Jaffray "Daisy" Harriman was an American socialite, suffragist, social reformer, organizer, and diplomat...
– Political appointee- Appointed: May 4, 1937
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: July 1, 1937
- Terminated mission: Left Norway, April 22, 1940
- Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr.Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr.Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr. , also known as A. J. Drexel Biddle, Jr. or Tony Biddle, was a wealthy socialite who became a diplomat of the United States, and served in the United States Army during World War I and after World War II, reaching the rank of major general.-Biography:Biddle was the...
– Political appointee- Appointed: February 11, 1941
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: March 20, 1941
- Terminated mission: Promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary May 12, 1942
Note: The title of the office was changed to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary on May 12, 1942. This required a new appointment and commission.
- Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr.Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr.Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr. , also known as A. J. Drexel Biddle, Jr. or Tony Biddle, was a wealthy socialite who became a diplomat of the United States, and served in the United States Army during World War I and after World War II, reaching the rank of major general.-Biography:Biddle was the...
– Political appointee- Appointed: May 12, 1942
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: May 13, 1942
- Terminated mission: Left London, December 1, 1943
- Lithgow Osborne – Career FSO
- Appointed: September 21, 1944
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: December 20, 1944
- Terminated mission: Left Oslo, April 20, 1946
- Charles Ulrick Bay – Political appointee
- Appointed: June 6, 1946
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: July 26, 1946
- Terminated mission: Appointment terminated, July 31, 1953
- L. Corrin Strong – Political appointee
- Appointed: June 24, 1953
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: August 10, 1953
- Terminated mission: Left post February 16, 1957
- Frances E. Willis – Career FSO
- Appointed: May 20, 1957
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: June 19, 1957
- Terminated mission: Left post May 15, 1961
- Clifton R. Wharton, Sr.Clifton Reginald Wharton, Sr.Clifton Reginald Wharton, Sr. was an American diplomat, and the first African American diplomat to become an ambassador by rising through the ranks of the Foreign Service rather than by political appointment such as Frederick Douglass...
– Career FSO- Appointed: March 2, 1961
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: April 18, 1961
- Terminated mission: Left post September 4, 1964
- Margaret Joy TibbettsMargaret Joy TibbettsMargaret Joy Tibbets was an American diplomat. A career Foreign Service Officer, she was the United States Ambassador to Norway from 1964 to 1969 under President Lyndon Johnson. She attended Gould Academy, Wheaton College in Massachusetts and her Ph.D. from Bryn Mawr College...
– Career FSO- Appointed: July 31, 1964
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: October 6, 1964
- Terminated mission: Left post May 23, 1969
- Philip K. Crowe – Political appointee
- Appointed: May 1, 1969
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: June 23, 1969
- Terminated mission: Left post August 31, 1973
- Thomas R. Byrne – Political appointee
- Appointed: August 3, 1973
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: October 4, 1973
- Terminated mission: Left post April 10, 1976
- William A. Anders – Political appointee
- Appointed: April 13, 1976
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: May 11, 1976
- Terminated mission: Left post June 18, 1977
- Louis A. Lerner – Political appointee
- Appointed: July 15, 1977
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: August 23, 1977
- Terminated mission: Left post January 28, 1980
- Sidney Anders Rand – Political appointee
- Appointed: December 20, 1979
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: March 4, 1980
- Terminated mission: Left post February 14, 1981
- Mark Evans AustadMark Evans AustadMark Evans Austad , was an American radio and television commentator in Washington D.C. , and served under the Ford administration as United States Ambassador to Finland in 1975 to 1977 and under the Reagan administration as United States Ambassador to Norway from 1981 to 1984.-Biography:Austad was...
– Political appointee- Appointed: December 11, 1981
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: January 5, 1982
- Terminated mission: Left post September 15, 1984
- Robert D. Stuart – Political appointee
- Appointed: September 18, 1984
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: October 16, 1984
- Terminated mission: Left post July 17, 1989
- Loret Miller RuppeLoret Miller RuppeLoret Miller Ruppe was a Director of the Peace Corps and US Ambassador to Norway. She was the wife of U. S. Congressman Philip Ruppe of Michigan.-Early life:...
– Political appointee- Appointed: August 7, 1989
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: August 29, 1989
- Terminated mission: Left post February 28, 1993
- Thomas A. LoftusThomas A. LoftusThomas A. Loftus is a United States diplomat and Wisconsin politician.Born in Stoughton, Wisconsin, Loftus received his bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and his masters from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Loftus served in the Wisconsin State Assembly...
– Political appointee- Appointed: November 4, 1993
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: November 18, 1993
- Terminated mission: Left post December 22, 1997
- David B. HermelinDavid HermelinDavid Hermelin was United States ambassador to Norway and a Detroit area philanthropist and entrepreneur and a graduate of the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. He died of a brain tumor...
– Political appointee- Appointed: November 10, 1997
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: January 8, 1998
- Terminated mission: Left post January 7, 2000
- Robin Chandler Duke – Political appointee
- Appointed: August 3, 2000
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: September 12, 2000
- Terminated mission: Left post March 1, 2001
- John D. Ong – Political appointee
- Appointed: January 30, 2002
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: February 27, 2002
- Terminated mission: Left post November 21, 2005
- Benson K. Whitney – Political appointee
- Appointed: November 2, 2005
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: January 12, 2006
- Terminated mission: 2009
- Barry B. WhiteBarry B. WhiteBarry B. White is the current United States Ambassador to Norway. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 22, 2009 and was sworn in as Ambassador on October 21, 2009. In a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 15, 2009, Ambassador White...
– Political appointee- Appointed: September 22, 2009
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Presented credentials: November 5, 2009
- Terminated mission: Incumbent
See also
- Norway – United States relations
- Foreign relations of NorwayForeign relations of NorwayThe foreign relations of Norway are based on the country's membership in NATO and within the workings of the United Nations . Additionally, Norway takes part in the integration of the European Union through its membership in the European Economic Area...
- Ambassadors of the United States