United States Ambassador to Finland
Encyclopedia
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Finland
.
Until 1917 Finland had been a subject of Russia
as the Grand Duchy of Finland
. As a result of the Bolshevist October Revolution
in Russia, Finland declared its independence
on December 6, 1917. On December 22 (January 4, 1918 N. S.), the highest Soviet executive body approved a decree recognizing Finland’s independence.
The United States recognized
Finland as an independent state on May 7, 1919. A U.S. legation
was established in Helsinki
and the first envoy, Alexander R. Magruder, presented his credentials as Chargé d'Affaires to the government of Finland on March 19, 1920. United States–Finland relations have been continuous since that time except for a brief period in 1944–45 when the U.S. severed relations during World War II.
The U.S. Embassy in Finland is located in Helsinki
in the Kaivopuisto
neighborhood.
Note: The United States severed diplomatic relations with Finland on June 30, 1944, as result of Finland’s war against the Soviet Union
. At that time the Soviet Union was an ally of the United States. Edmund A. Gullion was serving as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim when the relations were severed.
Note: The United States reestablished diplomatic relations with Finland after World War II. The legation
in Helsinki was reestablished September 1, 1945, with Benjamin M. Hulley as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim.
Note: The legation
in Helsinki was raised to embassy status on September 10, 1954. Concurrently the post of Minister became that of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
Until 1917 Finland had been a subject of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
as the Grand Duchy of Finland
Grand Duchy of Finland
The Grand Duchy of Finland was the predecessor state of modern Finland. It existed 1809–1917 as part of the Russian Empire and was ruled by the Russian czar as Grand Prince.- History :...
. As a result of the Bolshevist October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
in Russia, Finland declared its independence
Finland's declaration of independence
The Finnish declaration of independence was adopted by the Parliament of Finland on 6 December 1917. It declared Finland an independent and sovereign nation state rather than an autonomous Russian Grand duchy.-Revolution in Russia:...
on December 6, 1917. On December 22 (January 4, 1918 N. S.), the highest Soviet executive body approved a decree recognizing Finland’s independence.
The United States recognized
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...
Finland as an independent state on May 7, 1919. A U.S. legation
Legation
A legation was the term used in diplomacy to denote a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary....
was established in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
and the first envoy, Alexander R. Magruder, presented his credentials as Chargé d'Affaires to the government of Finland on March 19, 1920. United States–Finland relations have been continuous since that time except for a brief period in 1944–45 when the U.S. severed relations during World War II.
The U.S. Embassy in Finland is located in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
in the Kaivopuisto
Kaivopuisto
Kaivopuisto , or in spoken language, Kaivari, is one of the oldest and best known parks in central Helsinki, Finland, and also a neighbourhood of about 500 inhabitants where the park is located.-Geography:...
neighborhood.
Ambassadors
- Alexander R. Magruder – Career FSO
- Title: Chargé d'Affaires
- Appointed: Not commissioned
- Presented credentials: March 19, 1920
- Terminated mission: Superseded by incoming ambassador February 17, 1922
- Charles L. Kagey – Political appointee
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 8, 1921
- Presented credentials: February 17, 1922
- Terminated mission: Left post March 24, 1925
- John B. Stetson, Jr. – Political appointee
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 7, 1925
- Presented credentials: Did not present credentials, did not serve
- Alfred J. Pearson – Political appointee
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 23, 1925
- Presented credentials: September 5, 1925
- Terminated mission: Left post April 30, 1930
- Edward E. Brodie – Political appointee
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: January 31, 1930
- Presented credentials: May 16, 1930
- Terminated mission: Left post September 21, 1933
- Edward Albright – Political appointee
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 21, 1933
- Presented credentials: October 5, 1933
- Terminated mission: Left post April 12, 1937
- H. F. Arthur Schoenfeld – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: April 22, 1937
- Presented credentials: July 2, 1937
- Terminated mission: Left post December 17, 1942
Note: The United States severed diplomatic relations with Finland on June 30, 1944, as result of Finland’s war against the Soviet Union
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
. At that time the Soviet Union was an ally of the United States. Edmund A. Gullion was serving as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim when the relations were severed.
Note: The United States reestablished diplomatic relations with Finland after World War II. The legation
Legation
A legation was the term used in diplomacy to denote a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary....
in Helsinki was reestablished September 1, 1945, with Benjamin M. Hulley as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim.
- Maxwell M. HamiltonMaxwell M. HamiltonMaxwell McGaughey Hamilton was an American diplomat and United States Ambassador to Finland between 1945 and 1947.He graduated from Washington and Jefferson College, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta, in 1918....
– Career FSO- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 25, 1945
- Presented credentials: March 26, 1946
- Terminated mission: Left post August 25, 1947
- Avra M. WarrenAvra M. WarrenAvra M. Warren served as the United States Ambassador to 4 countries and minister to 3 ....
– Career FSO- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: December 18, 1947
- Presented credentials: February 10, 1948
- Terminated mission: Left post February 18, 1950
- John M. Cabot – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 2, 1950
- Presented credentials: February 27, 1950
- Terminated mission: Left post September 20, 1952
- Jack K. McFallJack K. McFallJack Kirkham McFall was a United States diplomat.-Biography:Jack K. McFall was born in Tacoma, Washington on September 28, 1905. He was raised in Denver, Colorado and Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated from Northeast High School. He then moved to Gary, Indiana and worked in a bank...
– Career FSO- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 10, 1952
- Presented credentials: November 15, 1952
- Terminated mission: Promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary September 15, 1954 and continued to serve.
Note: The legation
Legation
A legation was the term used in diplomacy to denote a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary....
in Helsinki was raised to embassy status on September 10, 1954. Concurrently the post of Minister became that of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
- Jack K. McFallJack K. McFallJack Kirkham McFall was a United States diplomat.-Biography:Jack K. McFall was born in Tacoma, Washington on September 28, 1905. He was raised in Denver, Colorado and Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated from Northeast High School. He then moved to Gary, Indiana and worked in a bank...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 15, 1954
- Presented credentials: September 17, 1954
- Terminated mission: Left post September 19, 1955
- John D. HickersonJohn D. HickersonJohn Dewey Hickerson was a United States diplomat-Biography:John D. Hickerson was born at Crawford, Texas on January 26, 1898. He was educated at the University of Texas, receiving a B.A. in 1920....
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 4, 1955
- Presented credentials: November 23, 1955
- Terminated mission: Left post November 3, 1959
- Edson O. Sessions – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 20, 1959
- Presented credentials: November 28, 1959
- Terminated mission: Left post November 20, 1960
- Bernard Gufler – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 24, 1961
- Presented credentials: April 14, 1961
- Terminated mission: Left post April 18, 1963
- Carl T. Rowan – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: March 9, 1963
- Presented credentials: May 21, 1963
- Terminated mission: Left post February 8, 1964
- Tyler Thompson – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 31, 1964
- Presented credentials: August 25, 1964
- Terminated mission: Left post June 14, 1969
- Val PetersonVal PetersonFrederick Valdemar Erastus Peterson , also known as Val Peterson, was an American politician who served as the 26th Governor of Nebraska from 1947 to 1953; as director of the Federal Civil Defense Administration from 1953–1957; as U.S. ambassador to Denmark 1957–1961; and as U.S...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 1, 1969
- Presented credentials: July 14, 1969
- Terminated mission: Left post March 23, 1973
- V. John Krehbiel – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: March 27, 1973
- Presented credentials: June 1, 1973
- Terminated mission: Left post February 24, 1975
- 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- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 20, 1975
- Presented credentials: March 20, 1975
- Terminated mission: Left post April 14, 1977
- Rozanne L. RidgwayRozanne L. RidgwayRozanne L. Ridgway served 32 years with the U.S. State Department, holding several posts, including ambassador to Finland and to East Germany, and finished her career as Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 26, 1977
- Presented credentials: August 5, 1977
- Terminated mission: Left post February 20, 1980
- James E. Goodby – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: March 18, 1980
- Presented credentials: April 11, 1980
- Terminated mission: Left post August 18, 1981
- Keith Foote Nyborg – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 30, 1981
- Presented credentials: September 18, 1981
- Terminated mission: Left post February 17, 1986
- Rockwell A. Schnabel – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: December 17, 1985
- Presented credentials: February 28, 1986
- Terminated mission: Left post February 24, 1989
- John Giffen Weinmann – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 10, 1989
- Presented credentials: November 10, 1989
- Terminated mission: Left post August 29, 1991
- John Hubert KellyJohn Hubert KellyJohn Hubert Kelly was a United States diplomat.-Biography:...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: December 2, 1991
- Presented credentials: December 20, 1991
- Terminated mission: Left post July 5, 1994
- Derek Shearer – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 29, 1994
- Presented credentials: July 1, 1994
- Terminated mission: Left post October 31, 1997
- Eric S. EdelmanEric S. EdelmanEric Steven Edelman is a former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey , former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Finland , and former Principal Deputy Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs . A career Foreign Service Officer, Edelman...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 29, 1998
- Presented credentials: August 27, 1998
- Terminated mission: Left post January 29, 2001
- Bonnie McElveen-HunterBonnie McElveen-HunterBonnie McElveen-Hunter is an American businesswoman who is the first female Chairman of the Board of Governors of the American Red Cross. She is currently serving her second three-year term, the first of which began in June, 2004, when she was appointed to the post by U.S. President George W....
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 5, 2001
- Presented credentials: December 5, 2001
- Terminated mission: Left post December 15, 2003
- Earle I. MackEarle I. MackEarle Irving Mack is an American businessman and former United States Ambassador to Finland.-Education:Mack graduated from Drexel University with a B.S. in 1959. He then went on to attend Fordham School of Law. In 1992 Mack was one of first 100 alumni inducted into the newly formed Drexel 100...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 25, 2004
- Presented credentials: June 10, 2004
- Terminated mission: Left post October 20, 2005
- Marilyn WareMarilyn WareMarilyn Ware was the U.S. Ambassador to Finland from March 2006 to March 2008.-Business career:From 1988-2003, Ware served as Chief Executive Officer of American Water Works Company, the largest water-utility holding company in the United States...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 7, 2006
- Presented credentials: March 9, 2006
- Terminated mission: March 28, 2008
- Barbara BarrettBarbara BarrettBarbara Barrett is President and CEO of Triple Creek Guest Ranch, a Montana Hideaway.Until January 2009, Barrett was U.S. Ambassador to Finland. Prior to Finland she served on the corporate boards of Raytheon, Exponent and The Mayo Clinic, and was a Trustee of Aerospace Corporation and Thunderbird...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: April 20, 2008
- Presented credentials: c. May 2008
- Terminated mission: Left post January 16, 2009
- Michael Butler
- Title: Chargé d'Affaires
- Took office: January 16, 2009
- Presented credentials:
- Terminated mission: TBD
- Bruce J. OreckBruce J. OreckBruce J. Oreck is the U.S. Ambassador to Finland.His father David Oreck founded the Oreck Corporation .Oreck holds a Bachelor of Arts from The Johns Hopkins University, and a Juris Doctorate from Louisiana State University, as well as a Masters of Law in Taxation from New York University...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: August 12, 2009
- Presented credentials: September 10, 2009
- Terminated mission: Incumbent
See also
- Finland–United States relationsFinland–United States relationsFinland – United States relations are bilateral relations between Finland and the United States.- History :Following the Finnish declaration of independence on December 6, 1917, the US government was among the first to recognize it...
- Foreign relations of FinlandForeign relations of FinlandThe foreign relations of Finland are the responsibility of President of Finland, who leads foreign policy in cooperation with the government. Implicitly the government is responsible for internal policy and decision making in the European Union...
- Ambassadors of the United States