Following the dissolution of the

Austro-Hungarian Empire Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...

in 1918 at the end of World War I, the Czechs and

Slovaks The Slovaks ( sk, Slováci, singular: ''Slovák'', feminine: ''Slovenka'', plural: ''Slovenky'') are a West Slavic ethnic group and nation native to Slovakia who share a common ancestry, culture, history and speak Slovak. In Slovakia, 4.4 mi ...

united to form the new nation of Czechoslovakia. The United States recognized Czechoslovakia and commissioned its first ambassador on April 23, 1919. Nazi Germany invaded Czechoslovakia in March 1939, establishing a German " protectorate", the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. By this time, Slovakia had already declared independence and had become a puppet state of Germany, the

Slovak Republic Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...

. German forces occupied Prague on March 15, 1939. The U.S. embassy was closed on March 21, 1939 and the ambassador left his post on April 6, 1939. During World War II the U.S. maintained diplomatic relations with the Czechoslovak government-in-exile in London. Ambassador Anthony J. Biddle, Jr. established an embassy in London on September 17, 1941 and the embassy was maintained until the

end of World War II in Europe The final battle of the European Theatre of World War II continued after the definitive overall surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allies, signed by Field marshal Wilhelm Keitel on 8 May 1945 in Karlshorst, Berlin. After German dictator Adolf H ...

. Following the war the embassy in Prague was reopened on May 29, 1945. In June 1992, the Slovak parliament voted to declare sovereignty and the Czech-Slovak federation dissolved peacefully on January 1, 1993. The United States recognized the Czech Republic and Slovakia as independent nations and moved to establish diplomatic relations. The previous ambassador to Czechoslovakia,

Adrian A. Basora Adrian Anthony Basora (born July 18, 1938) is an American diplomat, and former United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic. He is a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute researching democratization in the post-Communist states ...

, continued as the ambassador to the Czech Republic. Paul Hacker, the incumbent U.S. consul general, served as the first ''chargé d'affaires'' of the U.S. Embassy in Slovakia (January 1 to July 7, 1993), followed by Eleanor Sutter. In November 1993, Theodore E. Russell, former deputy chief of mission in Prague, became the first U.S. ambassador to Slovakia.

Ambassadors

* Richard Crane – Political appointeeCrane was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on June 26, 1919. **Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary **Appointed: April 23, 1919 ** Presented credentials: June 11, 1919 **Terminated mission: December 5, 1921 *

Lewis Einstein Lewis David Einstein (March 15, 1877 – December 4, 1967) was an American diplomat and historian. Early life Einstein was born on March 15, 1877, in New York City. He was the only son of wool magnate David Lewis Einstein (1839–1909) and, his ...

– Political appointee **Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary **Appointed: October 8, 1921 **Presented credentials: December 20, 1921 **Terminated mission: Left post, February 1, 1930 * Abraham C. Ratshesky – Political appointee **Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary **Appointed: January 25, 1930 **Presented credentials: May 2, 1930 **Terminated mission: Left post, May 13, 1932 *

Henry Frank Holthusen Henry Frank Holthusen (August 3, 1894 – September 19, 1971, Manhattan, New York City) was a corporation, admiralty, and international lawyer and diplomat. Personal life Holthusen graduated from Columbia University both for undergraduate (1915) ...

– Political appointeeHolthusen was not commissioned; his nomination was not confirmed by the United States Senate. **Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary **Appointed: **Presented credentials: **Terminated mission: * Francis White – Career FSO **Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary **Appointed: June 13, 1933 **Presented credentials: September 7, 1933 **Terminated mission: Relinquished charge on November 30, 1933 *

J. Butler Wright Joshua Butler Wright (October 18, 1877 – December 4, 1939) was a United States diplomat who served as representative of the US in Hungary, Uruguay, Czechoslovakia, and Cuba. He was the twentieth and last Third Assistant Secretary of State. Wri ...

– Career FSO **Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary **Appointed: March 9, 1934 **Presented credentials: October 25, 1934 **Terminated mission: Left post, June 1, 1937 *

Wilbur J. Carr Wilbur John Carr (October 31, 1870 - June 26, 1942) was an American diplomat. He was a leader in building a professional American diplomatic corps, cutting it loose from domestic politics. He was named one of three Great Civil Servants, along with ...

– Political appointeeGerman forces occupied Prague on March 15, 1939. Ambassador Carr closed the legation in Prague on March 21, 1939, and left post on April 6, 1939. **Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary **Appointed: July 13, 1937 **Presented credentials: September 16, 1937 **Terminated mission: April 6, 1939 *Note: The embassy in Prague was closed on March 21, 1939, following the occupation of Prague by German forces on March 15. The U.S. opened an embassy in London and maintained diplomatic relations with the government-in-exile of Czechoslovakia during the war. * Anthony J. Biddle, Jr. – Political appointeeThe title of the commission was changed to ''Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary'' in 1943 and Biddle was commissioned to the new position while remaining in the office of ambassador.Biddle was also commissioned to the governments-in-exile of Belgium, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Yugoslavia. **Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary **Appointed: September 17, 1941 **Presented credentials: October 28, 1941 **Terminated mission: June 4, 1943 *Note: The title of the commission was changed to ''Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary'' in 1943. This required a new commission for the ambassador. * Anthony J. Biddle, Jr. – Political appointee **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: June 4, 1943 **Presented credentials: July 12, 1943 **Terminated mission: Left London on December 1, 1943 *Note: After Germany’s surrender at the close of WWII in Europe, the mission of the embassy in London was terminated. Rudolph E. Schoenfeld was serving as chargé d'affaires ''ad interim'' when the embassy was closed. *Note: The embassy in Prague was re-established on May 29, 1945, with Alfred W. Klieforth as chargé d'affaires ''ad interim''. *

Laurence A. Steinhardt Laurence Adolph Steinhardt (October 6, 1892 – March 28, 1950) was an American economist, lawyer, and senior diplomat of the United States Department of State who served as U.S. Ambassador to six countries. He served as U.S. First Minister to Sw ...

– Political appointee **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: December 20, 1944 **Presented credentials: July 20, 1945 **Terminated mission: Left post, September 19, 1948 * Joseph E. Jacobs – Career FSOJacobs was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on March 2, 1949. **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: October 15, 1948 **Presented credentials: January 5, 1949 **Terminated mission: Left post, October 12, 1949 *

Ellis O. Briggs Ellis Ormsbee Briggs (December 1, 1899 – February 21, 1976) was an American diplomat who served as Ambassador to seven countries over the course of his career. Early life and family Briggs was born in Massachusetts to James Briggs and Lucy Hill ...

– Career FSO **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: September 1, 1949 **Presented credentials: November 8, 1949 **Terminated mission: Left post, August 27, 1952 * George Wadsworth – Career FSOWadsworth was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on May 1, 1953. **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: October 8, 1952 **Presented credentials: December 29, 1952 **Terminated mission: Left post, October 30, 1953 *

U. Alexis Johnson Ural Alexis Johnson (October 17, 1908 – March 24, 1997) was a United States diplomat. Background Ural Alexis Johnson was born in Falun, Kansas, into a family of Swedish descent. His mother named him for Ural Mountains, the mountain range, of w ...

– Career FSOJohnson was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on January 26, 1954. **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: November 10, 1953 **Presented credentials: December 31, 1953 **Terminated mission: Left post, December 29, 1957 * John M. Allison – Career FSO **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: March 12, 1958 **Presented credentials: April 24, 1958 **Terminated mission: Relinquished charge on May 4, 1960 *

Christian M. Ravndal Christian Magelssen Ravndal (January 6, 1899 Beirut–October 18, 1984 Vienna, Austria) was an American Career Foreign Service Officer FSO who served as the 2nd Director General of the Foreign Service from May 1, 1947, until June 23, 1949, Ambassad ...

– Career FSORavnda was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on August 27, 1960. **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: July 21, 1960 **Presented credentials: September 16, 1960 **Terminated mission: Left post, May 6, 1961 *Note: After 1961 the succeeding ambassadors were commissioned to the ''Czechoslovak Socialist Republic''. *

Edward T. Wailes Edward Thompson Wailes (February 16, 1903 – June 25, 1969) was an American diplomat and lawyer who served as an ambassador to Czechoslovakia, South Africa, Iran, and Hungary. He also served as the sixth Assistant Secretary of State for Administ ...

– Career FSO **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: July 14, 1961 **Presented credentials: July 28, 1961 **Terminated mission: Left post, October 22, 1962 * Outerbridge Horsey – Career FSOHorsey was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on March 12, 1963. **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: November 14, 1962 **Presented credentials: January 3, 1963 **Terminated mission: Relinquished charge on August 1, 1966 *

Jacob D. Beam Jacob Dyneley Beam (March 24, 1908 – August 16, 1993) was an American diplomat. Life and career Beam was born in Princeton, New Jersey. His father was a German professor at Princeton University, and the younger Beam earned a bachelor's degr ...

– Career FSO **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: May 27, 1966 **Presented credentials: August 31, 1966 **Terminated mission: Left post, March 5, 1969 * Malcolm Toon – Career FSO **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: May 13, 1969 **Presented credentials: July 31, 1969 **Terminated mission: Left post, October 11, 1971 * Albert W. Sherer, Jr. – Career FSO **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: February 15, 1972 **Presented credentials: March 15, 1972 **Terminated mission: Left post, July 29, 1975 * Thomas Ryan Byrne – Career FSO **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: May 1, 1976 **Presented credentials: June 23, 1976 **Terminated mission: Left post, November 15, 1978 *

Francis J. Meehan Francis Joseph Meehan (14 February 1924 – 7 May 2022) was an American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to several of the Eastern Bloc states during his career. His final posting was as United States Ambassador to East Germ ...

– Career FSO **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: March 23, 1979 **Presented credentials: May 30, 1979 **Terminated mission: Left post, October 20, 1980 *

Jack F. Matlock, Jr. Jack Foust Matlock Jr. (born October 1, 1929) is an American former ambassador, career Foreign Service Officer, a teacher, a historian, and a linguist. He was a specialist in Soviet affairs during some of the most tumultuous years of the Cold ...

– Career FSOAn earlier nomination of September 25, 1980, was not acted upon by the Senate. **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: September 28, 1981 **Presented credentials: November 11, 1981 **Terminated mission: September 20, 1983 *

William H. Luers William Henry Luers (born May 15, 1929) is a retired American career diplomat and museum executive. He is the director of the Iran Project. In addition to a thirty-one-year career in the Foreign Service, Luers has served as a U.S. Navy officer, as ...

– Career FSO **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: November 14, 1983 **Presented credentials: December 29, 1983 **Terminated mission: Left post, March 11, 1986 *

Julian Niemczyk Julian Martin Niemczyk (August 26, 1920 – September 16, 2009) was an American diplomat. Born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Niemczyk served in the U.S. Army and Air Force, rising to the rank of colonel. He studied at first at the University of Oklahom ...

– Political appointee **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: August 18, 1986 **Presented credentials: October 2, 1986 **Terminated mission: Left post, July 7, 1989 * Shirley Temple Black – Political appointee **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: August 3, 1989 **Presented credentials: August 23, 1989 **Terminated mission: Left post, July 12, 1992 *

– Career FSOBasora remained in Prague as the ambassador to the Czech Republic when Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia **Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary **Appointed: June 15, 1992 **Presented credentials: July 20, 1992 **Terminated mission: December 31, 1992 *Note: The Czech and Slovak Federal Republic ceased to exist on December 31, 1992. For later ambassadors, see

United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic The diplomatic post of United States ambassador to the Czech Republic was created after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia and the United States recognizing the new nation of the Czech Republic on January 1, 1993. In June 1992, the Slovak parli ...

and United States Ambassador to Slovakia.

Notes

Sources

United States Department of State: Ambassadors to Czechoslovakia
*

External links

United States Embassy in Prague
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ambassadors of the United States to Czechoslovakia 1919 establishments in the United States 1992 disestablishments in the United States Czechoslovakia United States United States

Ambassadors

See also

Notes

Sources

External links