United States Ambassadors to Cuba
Encyclopedia
Cuba
was the last major Spanish
colony
to gain independence, following a lengthy struggle that began in 1868. José Martí
, Cuba’s national hero, helped initiate the final push for independence in 1895. In 1898, the United States fought a brief war known as the Spanish-American War
, after the USS Maine
sank in Havana
Harbor on February 15, 1898 due to an explosion of undetermined origin. In December 1898, Spain relinquished control of Cuba to the United States with the Treaty of Paris
. On May 20, 1902, the United States granted Cuba its independence but retained the right to intervene to preserve Cuban independence and stability in accordance with the Platt Amendment
.
In 1902 the US established an embassy in Havana and appointed its first ambassador, Herbert G. Squiers
.
In 1934, the Platt Amendment was repealed. The United States and Cuba concluded a Treaty of Relations
in 1934 which, among other things, continued the 1903 agreements that leased the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
to the United States.
In 1959 Fidel Castro
’s 26th of July Movement
overthrew the government of Fulgencio Batista
and Batista fled the country on January 1, 1959. Relations between the United States and Cuba deteriorated rapidly as the Cuban government expropriated U.S. properties and developed closening ties with the Soviet Union.
In October 1960 the US recalled its ambassador in Cuba to protest Castro’s policies. On January 3, 1961 the US withdrew diplomatic recognition
of the Cuban government and closed the embassy in Havana.
On September 1, 1977 the US established the United States Interests Section in Havana
located in the Embassy of Switzerland in Havana. The mission is headed by Chief of Mission rather than an ambassador.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
was the last major Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
colony
Spanish colonization of the Americas
Colonial expansion under the Spanish Empire was initiated by the Spanish conquistadores and developed by the Monarchy of Spain through its administrators and missionaries. The motivations for colonial expansion were trade and the spread of the Christian faith through indigenous conversions...
to gain independence, following a lengthy struggle that began in 1868. José Martí
José Martí
José Julián Martí Pérez was a Cuban national hero and an important figure in Latin American literature. In his short life he was a poet, an essayist, a journalist, a revolutionary philosopher, a translator, a professor, a publisher, and a political theorist. He was also a part of the Cuban...
, Cuba’s national hero, helped initiate the final push for independence in 1895. In 1898, the United States fought a brief war known as the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, after the USS Maine
USS Maine (ACR-1)
USS Maine was the United States Navy's second commissioned pre-dreadnought battleship, although she was originally classified as an armored cruiser. She is best known for her catastrophic loss in Havana harbor. Maine had been sent to Havana, Cuba to protect U.S. interests during the Cuban revolt...
sank in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
Harbor on February 15, 1898 due to an explosion of undetermined origin. In December 1898, Spain relinquished control of Cuba to the United States with the Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1898)
The Treaty of Paris of 1898 was signed on December 10, 1898, at the end of the Spanish-American War, and came into effect on April 11, 1899, when the ratifications were exchanged....
. On May 20, 1902, the United States granted Cuba its independence but retained the right to intervene to preserve Cuban independence and stability in accordance with the Platt Amendment
Platt Amendment
The Platt Amendment of 1901 was a rider appended to the Army Appropriations Act presented to the U.S. Senate by Connecticut Republican Senator Orville H. Platt replacing the earlier Teller Amendment. Approved on May 22, 1903, it stipulated the conditions for the withdrawal of United States troops...
.
In 1902 the US established an embassy in Havana and appointed its first ambassador, Herbert G. Squiers
Herbert G. Squiers
Herbert Goldsmith Squiers was a United States diplomat, serving as Minister to Cuba , and Panama and as well as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.-Biography:...
.
In 1934, the Platt Amendment was repealed. The United States and Cuba concluded a Treaty of Relations
Treaty of Relations
The Treaty of Relations was signed in 1934 between the United States of America and Cuba. It was part of the Good Neighbor Policy developed by Franklin Roosevelt. The treaty rejected the Platt Amendment of 1901 which claimed US right to intervene in Cuban affairs if it recognized a threat to...
in 1934 which, among other things, continued the 1903 agreements that leased the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is located on of land and water at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba which the United States leased for use as a coaling station following the Cuban-American Treaty of 1903. The base is located on the shore of Guantánamo Bay at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the oldest overseas...
to the United States.
In 1959 Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
’s 26th of July Movement
26th of July Movement
The 26th of July Movement was the revolutionary organization planned and led by Fidel Castro that in 1959 overthrew the Fulgencio Batista government in Cuba...
overthrew the government of Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar was the United States-aligned Cuban President, dictator and military leader who served as the leader of Cuba from 1933 to 1944 and from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown as a result of the Cuban Revolution....
and Batista fled the country on January 1, 1959. Relations between the United States and Cuba deteriorated rapidly as the Cuban government expropriated U.S. properties and developed closening ties with the Soviet Union.
In October 1960 the US recalled its ambassador in Cuba to protest Castro’s policies. On January 3, 1961 the US withdrew diplomatic recognition
Diplomatic recognition
Diplomatic recognition in international law is a unilateral political act with domestic and international legal consequences, whereby a state acknowledges an act or status of another state or government in control of a state...
of the Cuban government and closed the embassy in Havana.
On September 1, 1977 the US established the United States Interests Section in Havana
United States Interests Section in Havana
The U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is inaccessible from within Cuba. Consular issues regarding the naval base are handled by the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica.-Location:...
located in the Embassy of Switzerland in Havana. The mission is headed by Chief of Mission rather than an ambassador.
Ambassadors
- Herbert G. SquiersHerbert G. SquiersHerbert Goldsmith Squiers was a United States diplomat, serving as Minister to Cuba , and Panama and as well as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.-Biography:...
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 20, 1902
- Presented credentialsLetter of CredenceA letter of credence is a formal letter usually sent by one head of state to another that formally grants diplomatic accreditation to a named individual to be their ambassador in the country of the head of state receiving the letter...
: May 27, 1902 - Terminated mission: Left post, December 2, 1905
- Edwin V. Morgan
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 29, 1905
- Presented credentials: March 1, 1906
- Terminated mission: Left post, January 5, 1910
- John B. Jackson
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: December 21, 1909
- Presented credentials: March 22, 1910
- Terminated mission: Presented recall, October 27, 1911
- Arthur M. Beaupre
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: August 12, 1911
- Presented credentials: December 18, 1911
- Terminated mission: Left post, June 28, 1913
- William E. Gonzales – Political appointee
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 21, 1913
- Presented credentials: August 9, 1913
- Terminated mission: Left post, December 18, 1919
- Boaz W. Long – Political appointee
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 30, 1919
- Presented credentials: January 8, 1920
- Terminated mission: Left post, June 17, 1921
- Note: In 1921 the title of the commission was changed to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
- Enoch H. CrowderEnoch CrowderMajor General Enoch Herbert Crowder, USA commonly referred to as General Crowder, was an American Army lawyer who served as the Judge Advocate General of the United States Army from 1911 to 1923...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 10, 1923
- Presented credentials: March 5, 1923
- Terminated mission: Left post, May 28, 1927
- Noble Brandon Judah – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 22, 1927
- Presented credentials: December 17, 1927
- Terminated mission: December 23, 1927; Left post, June 1, 1929
- Harry F. Guggenheim – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 10, 1929
- Presented credentials: November 21, 1929
- Terminated mission: Left post, April 2, 1933
- Sumner WellesSumner WellesBenjamin Sumner Welles was an American government official and diplomat in the Foreign Service. He was a major foreign policy adviser to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and served as Under Secretary of State from 1937 to 1943, during FDR's presidency.-Early life:Benjamin Sumner Welles was born in...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: April 24, 1933
- Presented credentials: May 11, 1933
- Terminated mission: Left post December 13, 1933
- Note: Normal relations were interrupted on September 5, 1933; the new Government of Cuba was still unrecognized by the United States when Welles left post on December 13, 1933.
- Jefferson CafferyJefferson CafferyJefferson Caffery served as U.S. ambassador to El Salvador , Colombia , Cuba , Brazil , France , and Egypt .-Career:...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 23, 1934
- Presented credentials: February 28, 1934
- Terminated mission: Left post, March 9, 1937
- J. Butler WrightJ. Butler WrightJoshua Butler Wright was a United States diplomat who served as the representative of the US in Hungary, Uruguay, Czechoslovakia, and Cuba....
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 13, 1937
- Presented credentials: August 23, 1937
- Terminated mission: Died at post, December 4, 1939
- George S. MessersmithGeorge S. MessersmithGeorge Strausser Messersmith was a United States ambassador to Austria, Cuba, Mexico and Argentina. Messersmith also served as the head of the U.S. Consulate in Nazi Germany during the rise of the Nazi party....
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: January 12, 1940
- Presented credentials: March 8, 1940
- Terminated mission: Presented recall, February 8, 1942
- Spruille BradenSpruille BradenSpruille Braden was an American diplomat, businessman, lobbyist, and member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He served as the ambassador of various Latin American countries, and as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: December 20, 1941
- Presented credentials: May 19, 1942
- Terminated mission: Left post, April 27, 1945
- R. Henry Norweb – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 21, 1945
- Presented credentials: July 24, 1945
- Terminated mission: Left post, May 22, 1948
- Robert ButlerRobert Butler (diplomat)Robert Butler was the United States Ambassador to Australia and Cuba .-Reference:*http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2818758?searchTerm=Robert%20Butler&searchLimits=...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 22, 1948
- Presented credentials: June 8, 1948
- Terminated mission: Left post, February 10, 1951
- Willard L. BeaulacWillard L. BeaulacWillard Leon Beaulac was a United States Diplomat. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Paraguay, Colombia, Cuba, Chile and Argentina.-Biography:Ambassador Beaulac was born Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and was a graduate of Georgetown University ....
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 20, 1951
- Presented credentials: September 20, 1951
- Terminated mission: Left post, August 9, 1953
- Arthur GardnerArthur GardnerArthur Gardner was a United States foreign diplomat and American ambassador to Cuba 1953-1957. Gardner was a close confident of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and was also strongly pro-Batista....
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 28, 1953
- Presented credentials: October 16, 1953
- Terminated mission: Left post, June 16, 1957
- Earl E. T. SmithEarl T. SmithEarl Edward Tailer Smith was a United States foreign diplomat, ambassador to Cuba , mayor of Palm Beach , and husband of model Florence Pritchett Smith .-Biography:...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 3, 1957
- Presented credentials: July 23, 1957
- Terminated mission: Left post, January 19, 1959
- Philip W. BonsalPhilip BonsalPhilip Wilson Bonsal was a United States foreign diplomat and the last United States Ambassador to Cuba.-Biography:Bonsal was born in New York in 1903, his father was Stephen Bonsal, a well-known Far Eastern correspondent. Bonsal became Ambassador to Colombia 1955, Bolivia 1957-59, Cuba 1959-60...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 16, 1959
- Presented credentials: March 3, 1959
- Terminated mission: Left post, October 28, 1960
- Daniel M. Braddock was serving as Chargé d'AffairesChargé d'affairesIn diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
ad interimAd interimThe Latin phrase ad interim literally means "in the time between" denotes the meaning of "in the meantime", "for an intervening time" or "temporarily" in the English language...
when the United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba in January 1961.
Chiefs of the US Interests Section
- 1977-1979 Lyle Franklin LaneLyle Franklin LaneLyle Franklin Lane is a United States Diplomat. He served as the first Chief of Mission of the United States Interests Section in Havana, heading the return of U.S. diplomats to Cuba in 1977. He also served as U.S...
- 1979-1982 Wayne S. Smith
- 1982-1985 John Ferch
- 1985-1987 Curtis W. Kamman
- 1987-1990 John J. TaylorJohn J. TaylorJohn James Taylor was a U.S. Representative from New York.-Education:Born in Leominster, Massachusetts, Taylor attended the common schools, New Ipswich Academy, and Groton Academy....
- 1990-1993 Alan H. Flanigan
- 1993-1996 Joseph SullivanJoseph SullivanJoseph Sullivan may refer to:* Joseph Sullivan , Scottish Member of Parliament for North Lanarkshire and Bothwell* Joseph A...
- 1996-1999 Michael Kozak
- 1999-2002 Vicki HuddlestonVicki HuddlestonVicki J. Huddleston is a U.S. diplomat.Since June 2009, Ambassador Huddleston has been the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. She is a former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa; U.S. Ambassador to Madagascar...
- 2002-2005 James CasonJames CasonJames Cason is a retired U.S. Foreign Service officer, most recently serving as Ambassador to Paraguay, a post he held from 2006 to 2008. Prior to that post, he was the Principal Officer of the US Interests Section in Havana...
- 2005-2008 Michael E. ParmlyMichael E. ParmlyMichael E. Parmly is the former Chief of Mission of the United States Interests Section in Havana, or USINT, a post he held from September 10, 2005 to July 2008. He succeeded James Cason at this post and is predecessor to Jonathan D. Farrar.-Personal life:...
- 2008–present Jonathan D. FarrarJonathan D. FarrarJonathan D. Farrar is the current Chief of Mission of the United States Interests Section in Havana, Cuba . He has held this post since July 2008, and succeeded Michael E. Parmly as the highest-ranking U.S. diplomat in Havana....
See also
- Cuba – United States relations
- Foreign relations of CubaForeign relations of CubaCuba's once-ambitious foreign policy has been down sized as a result of economic hardship after the collapse of the Soviet bloc. Without massive Soviet subsidies and its primary trading partner Cuba was comparatively isolated in the 1990s, but has since entered bilateral co-operation with several...
- Ambassadors of the United States