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

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Ambassador of the
United States of America to the
Court of St James's
Flag of a United States ambassador.svg
Flag of the United States Ambassador
U.S. Department of State official seal.svg
Seal of the United States Department of State
Priti Patel and Jane Hartley (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Jane D. Hartley

since July 19, 2022
U.S. Department of State
Embassy of the United States, London
Style His or Her Excellency (formal)
Mr. or Madam Ambassador (informal)
Reports to United States Secretary of State
Residence Winfield House
Seat London, United Kingdom
Appointer President of the United States
with the advice and consent of the Senate
Term length At the pleasure of the President
Inaugural holder John Adams
(as Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of St. James's)
Formation 1785
Website U.S. Embassy – London

The United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom is a very important person. They are the main representative for the president of the United States and the American government in the United Kingdom. This ambassador works closely with the UK's monarch and its government.

Currently, Jane D. Hartley holds this position. She started her role on July 19, 2022. This job is considered one of the most important in the United States Foreign Service. This is because the United States and the United Kingdom share a "special relationship". This means they have a very close friendship and work together on many global issues.

Many famous politicians have been the US Ambassador to the UK. Five of them even became US presidents later! These include John Adams, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren, and James Buchanan.

The ambassador and their team work at the American Embassy in Nine Elms, London. The ambassador's official home is Winfield House, located in Regent's Park.

What Does a US Ambassador Do?

The ambassador's main job is to explain the policies of the United States to the UK government and its people. They also report back to the US government about what the British government thinks and does. Think of them as a key messenger between the two countries.

Connecting Two Nations

The ambassador is the main way the US and UK talk to each other. They play a big part in discussing and agreeing on important treaties. Treaties are formal agreements between countries.

Helping American Citizens

The ambassador also leads the US consular service in the UK. This means they are in charge of things like visa services. Visas are official permissions to enter a country. They also make sure American citizens in the UK get help if they need it. This could be for emergencies or other support. The ambassador also helps build good cultural connections between the two countries.

A Look at Past US Representatives to the UK

The way the US has sent representatives to the UK has changed over time.

Early Representatives: Ministers (1785–1893)

In the early days, the US sent "Ministers" instead of "Ambassadors." The first person to represent the US was John Adams. He was called a "minister plenipotentiary." This fancy word means he had full power to act for his country in all matters.

After the War of 1812, diplomatic relations were restarted. At that time, countries usually sent "ambassadors" if they were led by a king or queen. Republics, like the United States, sent "ministers." So, the US representative was known as the "United States Minister to Great Britain."

Modern Representatives: Ambassadors (1893–Present)

In 1893, the United States decided to change how it sent representatives. It started sending "ambassadors" to other major countries, even though the US is a republic. This meant the US Legation in London became the United States Embassy. The "Minister" became the "United States Ambassador to Great Britain."

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