United States Ambassador to Portugal

Ambassador of the United States to Portugal

Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent
Robert A. Sherman
since March 2014
Nominator Barack Obama
Inaugural holder David Humphreys
as Minister Resident
Formation February 21, 1791
Website U.S. Embassy - Lisbon

This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Portugal.

Bilateral diplomatic relations between the United States and Portugal date from the earliest years of the United States. Following the Revolutionary War, Portugal was the first neutral country to recognize the United States. On February 21, 1791, President George Washington opened formal diplomatic relations, naming Col. David Humphreys as U.S. Minister Resident. Subsequent envoys were given the title Minister Plenipotentiary.

Ambassadors

U.S. diplomatic terms

Career FSO
After 1915, The United States Department of State began classifying ambassadors as career Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) for those who have served in the Foreign Service for a specified amount of time.

Political appointee
A person who is not a career foreign service officer, but is appointed by the president (often as a reward to political friends).

Appointed
The date that the ambassador took the oath of office; also known as “commissioning”. It follows confirmation of a presidential appointment by the Senate, or a Congressional-recess appointment by the president. In the case of a recess appointment, the ambassador requires subsequent confirmation by the Senate.

Presented credentials
The date that the ambassador presented his letter of credence to the head of state or appropriate authority of the receiving nation. At this time the ambassador officially becomes the representative of his country. This would normally occur a short time after the ambassador’s arrival on station. The host nation may reject the ambassador by not receiving the ambassador’s letter, but this occurs only rarely.

Terminated mission
Usually the date that the ambassador left the country. In some cases a letter of recall is presented, ending the ambassador’s commission, either as a means of diplomatic protest or because the diplomat is being reassigned elsewhere and replaced by another envoy.

Chargé d'affaires
The person in charge of the business of the embassy when there is no ambassador commissioned to the host country. See chargé d'affaires.

Ad interim
Latin phrase meaning "for the time being", "in the meantime". See ad interim.

Notes

  1. ↑ President Washington appointed Adams but he did not serve as minister.
  2. 1 2 3 During a succession of wars and invasions, the Portuguese royal family was in exile in Brazil in 1807–1821. Ambassadors Sumter and Graham, and Chargé Appleton represented the U.S. at the court of Portugal in Rio de Janeiro.
  3. ↑ Appleton’s nomination as Chargé d’Affaires was rejected by the Senate. He did, however, serve as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim from June 1820 until the legation to Portugal at Rio de Janeiro was closed in 1821.
  4. ↑ Dearborn arrived at Lisbon before August 16, 1822. He did not report the date of presentation of credentials.
  5. ↑ Brent was reaccredited on after change of government of Portugal. He presented new credentials January 18, 1830.
  6. ↑ Rencher was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on January 11, 1844.
  7. ↑ Clay was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on March 18, 1850.
  8. 1 2 President Franklin Pierce nominated O’Sullivan February 25, 1856, to be Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary but the nomination withdrawn before the Senate acted upon it.
  9. ↑ Cumback declined the appointment.
  10. 1 2 Moran was reassigned as Chargé d’Affaires at the Lisbon legation on August 15, 1876. He served in that position until 1882.
  11. 1 2 Francis took the oath of office as Chargé d’Affaires but did not proceed to the post under that appointment. He was recommissioned as Minister Resident/Consul General on July 7, 1882.
  12. ↑ Caruth was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on August 22, 1893.
  13. ↑ Irwin was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on December 14, 1899.
  14. ↑ Loomis was commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on December 10, 1901.
  15. ↑ Normal relations between Portugal and the United States were interrupted October 5, 1910 as a result of the 1910 revolution. The new government of Portugal still unrecognized by the United States when Gage left post on November 19, 1910.
  16. ↑ Boutell took the oath of office, but did not proceed to post.
  17. ↑ President Taft nominated Nicholson for the post but withdrew the nomination before the Senate acted on it.
  18. ↑ Norweb held the personal rank of Ambassador.
  19. ↑ Norweb’s promotion required the presentation of new credentials.
  20. ↑ Baruch was officially recognized as of April 12, 1945.
  21. ↑ Elbrick was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on January 29, 1959.
  22. ↑ President Ronald Reagan nominated Viets twice for the post: January 21, 1987 and September 15, 1987. Neither nomination was acted upon by the Senate.
  23. ↑ Rowell was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on May 12, 1988.

See also

References

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