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Ambassador of the United States
to Sweden
Flag of a United States ambassador.svg
United States ambassador flag
US Department of State official seal.svg
Erik D. Ramanathan, U.S. Ambassador 2.jpg
Incumbent
Erik Ramanathan

since January 20, 2022
U.S. Department of State
Embassy of the United States, Stockholm
Reports to U.S. Secretary of State
Residence Villa Åkerlund
Seat Stockholm, Sweden
Nominator The President
Appointer The President
with the advice and consent of the Senate
Term length At the pleasure of the President
No fixed term
Inaugural holder Benjamin Franklin
as Minister Plenipotentiary
Formation September 28, 1782
Website U.S. Embassy – Stockholm

The United States ambassador to Sweden (Swedish: Förenta Staternas ambassadör i Sverige) serves as the official diplomatic representative of the United States to the King and the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden. Diplomatic relations between Sweden and the United States began with the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce in 1783. Sweden received its first U.S. resident minister in 1814, but in 1818, the senior U.S. diplomat again became the chargé d'affaires. In 1854, the senior American diplomat in Sweden again became the minister resident. From 1814 to 1905 the United States Chief of Mission in Sweden also represented United States interests with respect to Norway, as Norway was aligned with Sweden during this period in the Union between Sweden and Norway.

The contemporary tendency of American presidents is to appoint fundraisers or prominent campaign supporters to the ambassador's post in Sweden, rather than promoting career members of the United States Foreign Service. The current ambassador is Erik Ramanathan, who presented his credentials on January 20, 2022.

Residence

Diplomatstaden 2008 Leg 3
The residence ("Villa Åkerlund") of the U.S. Ambassador in Stockholm, Sweden.

Since the 1930s, the ambassador is resident in the ambassadorial residence, Villa Åkerlund, of the United States Embassy in Diplomatstaden, Stockholm.

List of American chiefs of mission to Sweden

18th century

Portrait Representative Title Appointment Presentation of
credentials
Termination of
mission
Joseph Siffrein Duplessis - Benjamin Franklin - Google Art Project.jpg Benjamin Franklin Minister Plenipotentiary September 28, 1782 None: Was in Paris as U.S. ambassador to France;
negotiated treaty with the Swedish Ambassador in Paris.
April 3, 1783

1814–1854 (non-resident minister)

Portrait Representative Title Appointment Presentation of
credentials
Termination of
mission
Jonathan Russell Minister Plenipotentiary January 18, 1814 April 29, 1818 October 22, 1818
Gilbert-stuart-portrait-of-christopher-hughes.jpg Christopher Hughes Chargé d'Affaires January 21, 1819 July 5, 1825
William C. Somerville.jpg William C. Somerville Chargé d'Affaires March 9, 1825 Died en route to post
John James Appleton Chargé d'Affaires May 2, 1826 October 28, 1826 August 16, 1830
Gilbert-stuart-portrait-of-christopher-hughes.jpg Christopher Hughes Chargé d'Affaires March 3, 1830 August 16, 1830 September 22, 1841
George W. Lay Chargé d'Affaires May 12, 1842 October 4, 1842 October 11, 1845
Henry W. Ellsworth Chargé d'Affaires April 19, 1845 October 11, 1845 January 25, 1861
Richard Morell Staigg - Francis Schroeder - 1976.34.2 - Smithsonian American Art Museum.jpg Francis Schroeder Chargé d'Affaires November 7, 1849 April 22, 1850 June 29, 1854

1854–1885 (minister resident)

Portrait Representative Title Appointment Presentation of
credentials
Termination of
mission
Richard Morell Staigg - Francis Schroeder - 1976.34.2 - Smithsonian American Art Museum.jpg Francis Schroeder Minister Resident June 29, 1854 August 19, 1854 September 17, 1857
Benjamin Franklin Angel.png Benjamin F. Angel Minister Resident July 17, 1857 November 4, 1857 June 25, 1861
Jacob S. Haldeman Minister Resident March 16, 1861 June 25, 1861 September 24, 1864
James Hepburn Campbell - Brady-Handy.jpg James H. Campbell Minister Resident May 18, 1864 Sep 24, 1864 March 29, 1867
John McGinnis, Jr. Minister Resident November 16, 1866 Did not proceed to post, his nomination having been rejected by the Senate while he was en route.
Gen. J.J. Bartlett - NARA - 528371.jpg Joseph J. Bartlett Minister Resident March 19, 1867 June 4, 1867 July 24, 1869
JCarlile.jpg John S. Carlile Minister Resident Not commissioned
Christopher Columbus Andrews - Brady-Handy.jpg Christopher Columbus Andrews Minister Resident June 3, 1869 July 24, 1869 November 5, 1877
Johnlstevens.jpg John L. Stevens Minister Resident August 28, 1877 November 5, 1877 June 3, 1883
William W Thomas Jr.jpg William W. Thomas, Jr. Minister Resident June 6, 1883 September 6, 1883 June 30, 1885
Rufus Magee Minister Resident April 2, 1885 July 3, 1885 Promoted to Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary

1885–1947 (envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary)

Portrait Representative Title Appointment Presentation of
credentials
Termination of
mission
Rufus Magee Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary August 10, 1888 September 26, 1888 May 25, 1889
William W Thomas Jr.jpg William W. Thomas, Jr. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary March 19, 1889 May 27, 1889 May 2, 1894
Thomas B. Ferguson Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary February 14, 1894 May 2, 1894 February 7, 1898
William W Thomas Jr.jpg William W. Thomas, Jr. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary December 18, 1898 February 8, 1898 May 31, 1905
Charles H. Graves.jpg Charles H. Graves Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary March 8, 1905 May 31, 1905 December 12, 1913
Ira Nelson Morris.jpg Ira Nelson Morris Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary July 13, 1914 August 28, 1914 April 3, 1923
Robert Woods Bliss 1924 (cropped).jpg Robert Woods Bliss Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary January 30, 1923 August 8, 1923 March 15, 1927
Portrait of Leland B. Harrison.jpg Leland Harrison Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary February 26, 1927 May 31, 1927 November 11, 1929
John Motley Morehead III Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary January 22, 1930 March 31, 1930 April 6, 1933
Laurence Steinhardt.jpg Laurence A. Steinhardt Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary May 11, 1933 August 28, 1933 June 26, 1937
Fred Dearing LCCN2014686102 (cropped).jpg Fred Morris Dearing Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary April 22, 1937 September 23, 1937 June 17, 1938
Fred. A. Stirling LCCN2014716057.jpg Frederick A. Sterling Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary June 16, 1938 September 26, 1938 July 14, 1941
Herschel Johnson (1945).jpg Herschel V. Johnson Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary October 21, 1941 December 12, 1941 April 28, 1946
Louis G. Dreyfus.jpg Louis G. Dreyfus, Jr. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary August 1, 1946 January 3, 1947 October 6, 1947
H. Freeman Matthews 1956.jpg H. Freeman Matthews Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary July 21, 1947

1947–present day (ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary)

Portrait Representative Title Appointment Presentation of
credentials
Termination of
mission
H. Freeman Matthews 1956.jpg H. Freeman Matthews Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary September 20, 1947 December 5, 1947 May 24, 1950
Portrait of W. Walton Butterworth.jpg W. Walton Butterworth Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary July 5, 1950 September 18, 1950 December 9, 1953
John M. Cabot (cropped).jpg John M. Cabot Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary March 1, 1954 May 6, 1954 May 14, 1957
Francis White Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary June 3, 1957 September 17, 1957 December 9, 1958
James C.H. Bonbright Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary October 29, 1958 January 9, 1959 March 20, 1961
J. Graham Parsons.jpg J. Graham Parsons Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary March 15, 1961 May 16, 1961 April 17, 1967
William Womack Heath.jpg William Womack Heath Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary April 5, 1967 May 23, 1967 January 23, 1969
Vacant No ambassador appointed January 24, 1969 February 15, 1970
Jerome H. Holland Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary February 16, 1970 April 14, 1970 August 30, 1972
Arthur J. Olsen Chargé d'Affaires ad interim December 1972 May 1974
Robert Strausz-Hupé Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary April 25, 1974 May 29, 1974 March 3, 1976
David S. Smith Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary April 6, 1976 May 7, 1976 April 29, 1977
Rodney O'Gliasain Kennedy-Minott Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary August 3, 1977 September 29, 1977 September 26, 1980
Franklin S. Forsberg Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary December 11, 1981 January 14, 1982 December 12, 1985
Gregory J. Newell Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary December 9, 1985 December 19, 1985 June 12, 1989
Charles E. Redman 1994 (cropped).jpg Charles Edgar Redman Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary May 12, 1989 June 13, 1989 August 24, 1992
Thomas L. Siebert State 1993-12- Iss 372 (IA sim state-magazine 1993-12 372) (page 13 crop).jpg Thomas L. Siebert Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary February 9, 1994 March 24, 1994 December 17, 1997
Lyndon Lowell Olson, Jr. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary November 10, 1997 January 22, 1998 August 1, 2001
Former Ambassador Heimbold (6140276434).jpg Charles A. Heimbold, Jr. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary August 3, 2001 September 26, 2001 February 12, 2004
M. Teel Bivins, US Dept of State photo portrait.jpg Miles T. Bivins Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary May 25, 2004 June 9, 2004 January 31, 2006
Michael M Wood.jpg Michael M. Wood Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary May 30, 2006 June 8, 2006 January 20, 2009
Matthew Barzun.jpg Matthew Barzun Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary August 12, 2009 August 21, 2009 May 28, 2011
Mark Brzezinski - U.S. Ambassador Mark Brzezinski.jpg Mark Brzezinski Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary October 18, 2011 November 24, 2011 July 1, 2015
Robert-Gilchrist-Official-Portrait.jpg Robert S. Gilchrist Chargé d'Affaires ad interim July 1, 2015 March 1, 2016
Amb Azita Raji 200 1.jpg Azita Raji Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary February 1, 2016 March 1, 2016 January 20, 2017
DCM -- Official 007.jpg David Lindwall Chargé d'Affaires ad interim January 20, 2017 December 18, 2018
Ken Howery credentials presentation 4A0A7696 (49033287522).jpg Pamela Tremont Chargé d'Affaires ad interim April 2019 November 7, 2019
Kenneth A. Howery official photo.jpg Ken Howery Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary September 17, 2019 November 7, 2019 January 20, 2021
Ken Howery credentials presentation 4A0A7696 (49033287522).jpg Pamela Tremont Chargé d'Affaires ad interim January 20, 2021 June 12, 2021
Sandillo "Dillon" Banerjee Chargé d'Affaires ad interim June 12, 2021 July 22, 2021
Ken Howery credentials presentation 4A0A7696 (49033287522).jpg Pamela Tremont Chargé d'Affaires ad interim July 23, 2021 January 20, 2022
Erik D. Ramanathan, U.S. Ambassador 2.jpg Erik Ramanathan Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary December 18, 2021 January 20, 2022 Incumbent
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