List of ambassadors of the United States to Norway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ambassador of the United States to the Kingdom of Norway
United States ambassador flag
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent Sharon Hudson-Dean Chargé d'Affairs ad interim since February 15, 2024
U.S. Department of State Embassy of the United States, Oslo
Reports to	U.S. Secretary of State
Residence	Villa Otium
Seat	Oslo, Norway
Nominator	The President of the United States
Appointer	with the advice and consent of the Senate
Term length	At the pleasure of the President No fixed term
Inaugural holder	Charles H. Graves as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Formation	March 8, 1905
Website	U.S. Embassy - Oslo

The United States ambassador to Norway is a very important person. They are the official representative of the U.S. President and the American government in Norway. This ambassador works to keep strong ties between the two countries. They help with things like trade, culture, and solving problems together.

What Does an Ambassador Do?

An ambassador is like a chief diplomat. They live in another country and represent their home country's interests. The U.S. ambassador to Norway works from the U.S. Embassy in Oslo. Their job is to talk with the Norwegian government and people. They also help American citizens who are living in or visiting Norway.

Early Days: One Ambassador for Two Countries

The United States became an independent country in 1783. It started having official relations with Norway in 1818. At that time, Norway was joined with Sweden in a "personal union." This meant they shared a king and a foreign policy. So, the U.S. ambassador to Sweden also represented the U.S. in Norway.

In 1905, Sweden and Norway peacefully separated. Norway became its own independent country. After this, the U.S. State Department decided to have separate diplomatic relations. On November 14, 1905, Ambassador Charles H. Graves was asked to handle affairs for both countries separately. He was the U.S. representative to Norway, even though he stayed in Stockholm, Sweden.

Norway Becomes Independent: A New Ambassador

The first U.S. ambassador chosen only for Norway was Herbert H. D. Peirce. He was appointed on June 22, 1906. The U.S. Embassy in Stockholm stopped handling Norway's affairs on August 6, 1906. Ambassador Peirce officially started his job in Norway on August 13, 1906. He presented his "credentials" (official papers) to Norway's foreign minister.

Who Has Been the U.S. Ambassador to Norway?

Many people have served as the U.S. ambassador to Norway over the years. They are chosen by the U.S. President. The Senate must also agree to their appointment. The table below shows a list of these important individuals. It includes when they were appointed and when their time in Norway ended.

Villa Otium, the home of the U.S. Ambassador in Oslo, Norway.

The current U.S. Embassy building in Oslo.

Name	Portrait	Appointment Date	Start Date in Norway	End Date in Norway	Appointed by President		Notes
Graves, Charles H.Charles H. Graves		March 8, 1905	May 31, 1905	August 6, 1906		Roosevelt, TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt	Left the position.
Peirce, Herbert H. D.Herbert H. D. Peirce		June 22, 1906	August 13, 1906	May 30, 1911			Left the position.
Swenson, Laurits S.Laurits S. Swenson		April 27, 1911	June 10, 1911	October 4, 1913		Taft, William H.William H. Taft	Left the position.
Schmedeman, Albert G.Albert G. Schmedeman		July 21, 1913	October 4, 1913	July 29, 1921		Wilson, WoodrowWoodrow Wilson	Left the position.
Swenson, Laurits S.Laurits S. Swenson		October 8, 1921	November 28, 1921	November 9, 1930		Harding, Warren G.Warren G. Harding	Left the position.
Philip, HoffmanHoffman Philip		July 22, 1930	November 15, 1930	August 3, 1935		Hoover, HerbertHerbert Hoover	Left the position.
Biddle, Jr., Anthony J. DrexelAnthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr.		July 22, 1935	September 7, 1935	May 21, 1937		Roosevelt, Franklin D.Franklin D. Roosevelt	Left the position.
Harriman, Florence JaffrayFlorence Jaffray Harriman		May 4, 1937	July 1, 1937	April 22, 1940			First female ambassador to Norway; left due to WWII.
Biddle, Jr., Anthony J. DrexelAnthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr.		February 11, 1941	March 20, 1941	December 1, 1943			Left London, where the Norwegian government was in exile.
Osborne, LithgowLithgow Osborne		September 21, 1944	December 20, 1944	April 20, 1946			Left the position.
Bay, Charles UlrickCharles Ulrick Bay		June 6, 1946	July 26, 1946	July 31, 1953		Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman	Left the position.
Strong, Lester CorrinLester Corrin Strong		June 24, 1953	August 10, 1953	February 16, 1957		Eisenhower, Dwight D.Dwight D. Eisenhower	Left the position.
Willis, Frances E.Frances E. Willis		May 20, 1957	June 19, 1957	May 15, 1961			Left the position.
Wharton, Sr., Clifton R.Clifton R. Wharton, Sr.		March 2, 1961	April 18, 1961	September 4, 1964		Kennedy, John F.John F. Kennedy	Left the position.
Tibbetts, Margaret JoyMargaret Joy Tibbetts		July 31, 1964	October 6, 1964	May 23, 1969		Johnson, Lyndon B.Lyndon B. Johnson	Left the position.
Crowe, Philip K.Philip K. Crowe		May 1, 1969	June 23, 1969	August 31, 1973		Nixon, RichardRichard Nixon	Left the position.
Byrne, Thomas RyanThomas Ryan Byrne		August 3, 1973	October 4, 1973	April 10, 1976			Left the position.
Anders, William A.William A. Anders		April 13, 1976	May 11, 1976	June 18, 1977		Ford, Gerald R.Gerald R. Ford	Left the position.
Lerner, Louis A.Louis A. Lerner		July 15, 1977	August 23, 1977	January 28, 1980		Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter	Left the position.
Rand, Sidney AndersSidney Anders Rand		December 20, 1979	March 4, 1980	February 14, 1981			Left the position.
Austad, Mark EvansMark Evans Austad		December 11, 1981	January 5, 1982	September 15, 1984		Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan	Left the position.
Stuart Jr., R. DouglasR. Douglas Stuart Jr.		September 18, 1984	October 16, 1984	July 17, 1989			Left the position.
Ruppe, Loret MillerLoret Miller Ruppe		August 7, 1989	August 29, 1989	February 28, 1993		Bush, George H. W.George H. W. Bush	Left the position.
Loftus, Thomas A.Thomas A. Loftus		November 4, 1993	November 18, 1993	December 22, 1997		Clinton, BillBill Clinton	Left the position.
Hermelin, DavidDavid Hermelin		November 10, 1997	January 8, 1998	January 7, 2000			Left the position.
Duke, Robin ChandlerRobin Chandler Duke		August 3, 2000	September 12, 2000	March 1, 2001			Left the position.
Ong, John D.John D. Ong		January 30, 2002	February 27, 2002	November 21, 2005		Bush, George W.George W. Bush	Left the position.
Whitney, Benson K.Benson K. Whitney		November 2, 2005	January 12, 2006	June 20, 2009			Left the position.
White, Barry B.Barry B. White		September 23, 2009	November 5, 2009	September 28, 2013		Obama, BarackBarack Obama	Left the position.
Heins, Samuel D.Samuel D. Heins		February 16, 2016	March 10, 2016	January 12, 2017			Left the position.
Braithwaite, KennethKenneth Braithwaite		December 21, 2017	February 8, 2018	May 29, 2020		Trump, DonaldDonald Trump	Left the position.
Nathanson, MarcMarc Nathanson		May 5, 2022	June 16, 2022	February 14, 2024		Biden, JoeJoe Biden	Left the position.