His Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States of America
Royal arms ofHis Majesty's Government
Incumbent James Roscoe(Interim – Chargé d’Affaires) since 11 September 2025[1][2]
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office British Embassy, Washington D.C.
Style	His Excellency Mr Ambassador
Reports to	Foreign Secretary
Residence	British ambassador's residence in Washington, D.C.
Appointer	The King on advice of theprime minister
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure
Inaugural holder	George Hammond First Envoy Extraordinary to US
Formation	1791
Website	British Embassy – Washington

TheBritish ambassador to the United States is in charge of theBritish Embassy, Washington, D.C., theUnited Kingdom'sdiplomatic mission to theUnited States. The official title isHis Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to the United States of America.

Theambassador's residence is onMassachusetts Avenue inWashington, D.C. It was designed by SirEdwin Lutyens and built in 1928.

The position of ambassador to the United States is considered to be one of the most important and prestigious posts inHis Majesty's Diplomatic Service, along with that ofPermanent Under-Secretary of State at theForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The ambassador's main duty is to present British policies to the American government and people, and to report American policies and views to theGovernment of the United Kingdom. They serve as the primary channel of communication between the two nations, and play an important role in treaty negotiations.

The ambassador is the head of the United Kingdom's consular service in the United States. As well as directing diplomatic activity in support of trade, they are ultimately responsible forvisa services and for the provision of consular support to British citizens in America. They also oversee cultural relations between the two countries.

The first British envoy to the United States wasSir John Temple, who was appointed consul general in 1785 and was based inNew York at the estate atRichmond Hill (Manhattan) which served previously as a headquarters forGeorge Washington.^[3]

George Hammond was appointed on 5 July 1791. He held the title ofMinister in Washington orMinister to the United States of America.

In 1809,David Erskine and PresidentJames Madison negotiated a compromise on Anglo-American disputes over shipping in the Atlantic, which might have averted theWar of 1812. However, the deal was rejected byKing George III and the British Government recalled Erskine.

By the 1850s, the envoy's title wasHer Majesty'sEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States of America, and the United Kingdom had consulates in several American cities. Under the direction ofSir John Crampton in 1854 and 1855, British consuls attempted to enlist American volunteers to fight in theCrimean War. The American government strenuously objected, and PresidentFranklin Pierce asked for Crampton to be recalled. The United Kingdom refused, and in May 1856 the American government dismissed Crampton, along with the United Kingdom's consuls inNew York,Philadelphia andCincinnati. After much negotiation, the United Kingdom was allowed to re-establish its Legation in Washington the following year, andLord Napier became the new minister.

In 1893, the British diplomatic mission in Washington was raised from aLegation to anEmbassy, andSir Julian Pauncefote, Minister since 1889, was appointed as the United Kingdom's first ambassador to the United States, with the titleHer Britannic Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States.

The role has in the past been offered to three formerPrime Ministers: theEarl of Rosebery,David Lloyd George andSir Edward Heath, all of whom declined.^[4]

As a republic, the United States was not entitled to receive an ambassador. Instead, the United Kingdom dispatched a diplomat with the lowerrank ofminister plenipotentiary. This placed the United Kingdom on equal footing with France, which also maintained a minister plenipotentiary in the United States.^[5]: 1

1791–1795:George Hammond

In 1796, the United Kingdom raised its representation toenvoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, orminister. Diplomatic relations would be maintained at this rank for almost 100 years.^[5]: 1

• 1796–1800:Sir Robert Liston^[6]
• 1800–1804:Sir Edward Thornton
• 1803–1806:Anthony Merry^[7]
• 1807–1809:The Hon. David Erskine^[8]
• 1809–1811:Francis Jackson^[9]
• 1811–1812:Sir Augustus Foster
• 1812–1815:No representation due to theWar of 1812
• 1815–1820:The Hon. Sir Charles Bagot^[10]
• 1820–1824:Stratford Canning^[11]
• 1825–1835:Sir Charles Vaughan^[12]
• 1835–1843:Sir Henry Fox^[13]
• 1843–1847:Richard Pakenham^[14]
• 1849–1852:Sir Henry Bulwer^[15]
• 1852–1856:Sir John Crampton, Bt^[16]
• 1857–1858:Lord Napier^[17]
• 1858–1865:Lord Lyons^[18]
• 1865–1867:Sir Frederick Bruce^[19]
• 1867–1881:Sir Edward Thornton^[20]
• 1881–1888:The Hon. Lionel Sackville-West^[21]
• 1889–1893:Sir Julian Pauncefote^[22]

• 1893–1902:Sir Julian Pauncefote (Lord Pauncefote from 1899)
• 1902–1903:The Hon. Sir Michael Herbert^[23]
• 1903–1906:Sir Mortimer Durand^[24]
• 1907–1913:James Bryce (later Viscount Bryce)^[25]
• 1913–1918:Sir Cecil Spring Rice^[26]
• 1918–1919:The Earl of Reading
• 1919–1920:Viscount Grey of Fallodon
• 1920–1924:Sir Auckland Geddes
• 1924–1930:Sir Esme Howard^[27]
• 1930–1939:Sir Ronald Lindsay^[28]
• 1939–1940:The Marquess of Lothian
• 1940–1946:Viscount Halifax (Earl of Halifax from 1944)
• 1946–1948:Lord Inverchapel^[29]
• 1948–1952:Sir Oliver Franks
• 1953–1956:Sir Roger Makins^[30]
• 1956–1961:Sir Harold Caccia^[31]
• 1961–1965:The Hon. Sir David Ormsby-Gore (Lord Harlech from 1964)^[32]
• 1965–1969:Sir Patrick Dean^[33]
• 1969–1971:The Rt. Hon. John Freeman^[34]
• 1971–1974:The Earl of Cromer^[35]
• 1974–1977:The Hon. Sir Peter Ramsbotham^[36]
• 1977–1979:The Hon. Peter Jay^[37]
• 1979–1982:Sir Nicholas Henderson^[38]
• 1982–1986:Sir Oliver Wright
• 1986–1991:Sir Antony Acland^[39]
• 1991–1995:Sir Robin Renwick
• 1995–1997:Sir John Kerr
• 1997–2003:Sir Christopher Meyer
• 2003–2007:Sir David Manning
• 2007–2012:Sir Nigel Sheinwald^[40]
• 2012:Sir Philip Barton,Chargé d'affaires ad interim
• 2012–2016:Sir Peter Westmacott^[41]
• 2016–2019:Sir Kim Darroch (Lord Darroch of Kew from 2019)^[42]
• 2020:Michael Tatham,Chargé d'affaires ad interim
• 2020–2025:Dame Karen Pierce^[43]
• 2025: James Roscoe,Chargé d'affaires ad interim
• 2025:Peter Mandelson^[44]
• 2025–present^[update]:James Roscoe,Chargé d'affaires ad interim^[45]

• United States ambassador to the United Kingdom
• Canadian ambassadors to the United States – replacing the role of the British Ambassador to the US (and Foreign Secretary of State for the Colonies) in dealing with diplomatic relations for Canada after 1926

• UK and United States of America, gov.uk

• Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to the United States
• Lists of ambassadors of the United Kingdom
• Lists of ambassadors to the United States

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