United States Ambassador to Norway

Prior to 1905, Sweden and Norway were politically united. The United States Ambassador to Sweden thus was the US representative for Norway as well as Sweden. In 1905 Sweden and Norway peacefully separated and Norway became an independent constitutional monarchy. On November 14, 1905, the US State Department instructed Ambassador Charles H. Graves to handle affairs for Sweden and Norway separately and the Ambassador was thus commissioned to Norway equally with Sweden, though he remained in Stockholm.

On June 22, 1906, Herbert H. D. Peirce was appointed to be the first ambassador of the US appointed specifically solely for Norway. On August 6, 1906, the embassy in Stockholm ceased all functions related to Norway. Peirce presented his credentials to the foreign minister of Norway on August 13, 1906.

Ambassadors

*Charles H. GravesCommissioned to Sweden and Norway; resident at Stockholm, Sweden. On November 14, 1905, he acknowledged instructions to exercise the functions of his office toward Norway separately.]
**Appointed: March 8, 1905
**Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: May 31, 1905
**Terminated mission: Terminated functions with respect to Norway, August 6, 1906

*Herbert H. D. Peirce
**Appointed: June 22, 1906
**Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: August 13, 1906
**Terminated mission: Presented recall, May 30, 1911

*Laurits S. Swenson
**Appointed: April 27, 1911
**Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: June 10, 1911
**Terminated mission: Presented recall, October 4, 1913

*Albert G. Schmedeman – Political appointee
**Appointed: July 21, 1913
**Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: October 4, 1913
**Terminated mission: Left post July 29, 1921

*Laurits S. Swenson – Political appointee
**Appointed: October 8, 1921
**Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: November 28, 1921
**Terminated mission: Left post November 9, 1930

*Hoffman PhilipPhilip was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on December 16, 1930.] – Career FSO
**Appointed: July 22, 1930
**Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: November 15, 1930
**Terminated mission: Left post August 3, 1935

*Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr. – Political appointee
**Appointed: July 22, 1935
**Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: September 7, 1935
**Terminated mission: Left post May 21, 1937

Note: During the German occupation of Norway in WWII, the government of Norway fled to England and set up a government-in-exile in London. The United States maintained diplomatic relations with Norway during the war, with the ambassador staying in London near the government offices.

*Florence Jaffray HarrimanThe Government of Norway left Oslo, April 9, 1940, in anticipation of German occupation. Harriman departed 13 days later.] Raymond E. Cox was serving as Chargé d’Affaires "ad interim" when the legation in Oslo was closed, July 15, 1940. Rudolf E. Schoenfeld opened the legation near the Government of Norway that was established in England, making his initial call as Chargé d’Affaires "ad interim" on August 2, 1940.] – Political appointee
**Appointed: May 4, 1937
**Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: July 1, 1937
**Terminated mission: Left Norway, April 22, 1940

*Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr.Biddle served near the Government of Norway in exile that was established in England. Biddle was commissioned also to Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, and Yugoslavia. He was resident at London.] – Political appointee
**Appointed: February 11, 1941
**Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: March 20, 1941
**Terminated mission: Promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary May 12, 1942

Note: The title of the office was changed to "Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary" on May 12, 1942. This required a new appointment and commission.

*Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr.Biddle served near the Government of Norway in exile that was established in England. Biddle was commissioned also to Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, and Yugoslavia. He was resident at London.] – Political appointee
**Appointed: May 12, 1942
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: May 13, 1942
**Terminated mission: Left London, December 1, 1943

*Lithgow OsborneOsborne served near the Government of Norway that was established in England and he was resident first at London. When the government of Norway returned to Oslo, Osborne transferred the embassy to Oslo on May 31, 1945.] – Career FSO
**Appointed: September 21, 1944
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: December 20, 1944
**Terminated mission: Left Oslo, April 20, 1946

*Charles Ulrick Bay – Political appointee
**Appointed: June 6, 1946
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: July 26, 1946
**Terminated mission: Appointment terminated, July 31, 1953

*L. Corrin Strong – Political appointee
**Appointed: June 24, 1953
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: August 10, 1953
**Terminated mission: Left post February 16, 1957

*Frances E. Willis – Career FSO
**Appointed: May 20, 1957
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: June 19, 1957
**Terminated mission: Left post May 15, 1961

*Clifton R. Wharton, Sr. – Career FSO
**Appointed: March 2, 1961
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: April 18, 1961
**Terminated mission: Left post September 4, 1964

*Margaret Joy Tibbetts – Career FSO
**Appointed: July 31, 1964
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: October 6, 1964
**Terminated mission: Left post May 23, 1969

*Philip K. Crowe – Political appointee
**Appointed: May 1, 1969
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: June 23, 1969
**Terminated mission: Left post August 31, 1973

*Thomas R. Byrne – Political appointee
**Appointed: August 3, 1973
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: October 4, 1973
**Terminated mission: Left post April 10, 1976

*William A. Anders – Political appointee
**Appointed: April 13, 1976
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: May 11, 1976
**Terminated mission: Left post June 18, 1977

*Louis A. Lerner – Political appointee
**Appointed: July 15, 1977
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: August 23, 1977
**Terminated mission: Left post January 28, 1980

*Sidney Anders Rand – Political appointee
**Appointed: December 20, 1979
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: March 4, 1980
**Terminated mission: Left post February 14, 1981

*Mark Evans Austad – Political appointee
**Appointed: December 11, 1981
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: January 5, 1982
**Terminated mission: Left post September 15, 1984

*Robert D. Stuart – Political appointee
**Appointed: September 18, 1984
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: October 16, 1984
**Terminated mission: Left post July 17, 1989

*Loret Miller Ruppe – Political appointee
**Appointed: August 7, 1989
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: August 29, 1989
**Terminated mission: Left post February 28, 1993

*Thomas A. Loftus – Political appointee
**Appointed: November 4, 1993
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: November 18, 1993
**Terminated mission: Left post December 22, 1997

*David B. Hermelin – Political appointee
**Appointed: November 10, 1997
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: January 8, 1998
**Terminated mission: Left post January 7, 2000

*Robin Chandler DukeDuke was commissioned during a recess of the Senate. A later nomination of September 28, 2000, was not acted upon by the Senate.] – Political appointee
**Appointed: August 3, 2000
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: September 12, 2000
**Terminated mission: Left post March 1, 2001

*John D. Ong – Political appointee
**Appointed: January 30, 2002
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: February 27, 2002
**Terminated mission: Left post November 21, 2005

*Benson K. Whitney – Political appointee
**Appointed: November 2, 2005
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Presented credentials: January 12, 2006
**Terminated mission: -

Notes

ource

* [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/po/com/11064.htm United States Department of State: Ambassadors to Norway]
* [http://norway.usembassy.gov/ United States Embassy in Norway]