United States Ambassador to Tanzania

The area of southern Africa that is now the nation of Tanzania first came under European domination in 1884 when the German "Gesellschaft für Deutsche Kolonisation" Society for German Colonization under Dr. Karl Peters concluded treaties with the local chiefs in the name of the Society. After concluding the treaties, Dr. Peters returned to Germany, obtained an imperial charter from Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, and formed the "Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Gesellschaft" (German East Africa Company).

At the same time British presence and influence had been growing in the area. In 1886 and 1890, Anglo-German agreements were negotiated that delineated the British and German spheres of influence in the interior of East Africa and along the coastal strip previously claimed by the Omani Sultan of Zanzibar. In 1891, the German Government took over direct administration of the territory from the German East Africa Company and appointed a governor with headquarters at Dar es Salaam. The territory was named Tanganyika after nearby Lake Tanganyika. Zanzibar became a protectorate of the United Kingdom that year.

During The Great War Germany lost its colonies in German East Africa and after the war the League of Nations gave the United Kingdom the mandate to administer the former German colony. British administration under the mandate was continued until the end of World War II and the formation of the United Nations in 1946. In that year Tanganyika became a trust territory of the United Nations, still governed by the United Kingdom.

In December 1959, the United Kingdom agreed to the establishment of internal self-government following general elections to be held in August 1960. In May 1961, Tanganyika became autonomous. Full independence was achieved on December 9, 1961. One year later on December 17, 1962 Tanganyika became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations.

The United States immediately recognized the new nation and moved to establish diplomatic relations. An embassy in Dar es Salaam was established on December 9, 1961—independence day for Tanganyika. William R. Duggan was appointed as chargé d’affaires "ad interim" pending the appointment of an ambassador. The first ambassador, William Leonhart was appointed "Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary" on August 22, 1962, and presented his credentials to the government on October 3, 1962.

Zanzibar received its independence from the United Kingdom on December 19, 1963, as a constitutional monarchy under the sultan. On January 12, 1964, the African majority revolted against the sultan and a new government was formed. On April 26, 1964, Tanganyika united with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. The country was renamed the United Republic of Tanzania on October 29, 1964.

The Embassy in Zanzibar was established on December 10, 1963, with Frederick P. Picard III as chargé d’affaires "ad interim". An ambassador to Zanzibar had not yet been appointed when that country was united with the Tanganyika. Frank C. Carlucci III was serving as chargé d’affaires "ad interim" in Zanzibar when the embassy was changed to a U.S. consulate on June 27, 1964. Ambassador Leonhart in Dar es Salaam continued to serve as the ambassador to Tanzania.

Ambassadors

*William Leonhart – Career FSOLeonhart was originally commissioned to Tanganyika. He was recommissioned when Tanganyika became a republic and presented new credentials on December 17, 1962.] Leonhart continued to serve without further reaccreditation after the formation of the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.]
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: August 22, 1962
**Presented credentials: October 3, 1962
**Terminated mission: Left post December 22, 1965
*John H. Burns – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: September 24, 1965
**Presented credentials: January 3, 1966
**Terminated mission: Left post June 22, 1969
*Claude G. Ross – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: October 9, 1969
**Presented credentials: December 27, 1969
**Terminated mission: Left post June 25, 1972
*W. Beverly Carter, Jr. – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: June 27, 1972
**Presented credentials: July 24, 1972
**Terminated mission: Left post October 14, 1975
*James W. Spain – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: November 20, 1975
**Presented credentials: January 8, 1976
**Terminated mission: Left post August 21, 1979
*Richard Noyes Viets – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: September 28, 1979
**Presented credentials: October 18, 1979
**Terminated mission: Left post May 16, 1981
*David Charles Miller, Jr. – Political appointee
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: October 26, 1981
**Presented credentials: November 4, 1981
**Terminated mission: Left post February 28, 1984
*John William Shirley – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: June 28, 1984
**Presented credentials: July 28, 1984
**Terminated mission: Left post July 18, 1986
*Donald K. Petterson – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: October 16, 1986
**Presented credentials: December 8, 1986
**Terminated mission: Left post December 26, 1989
*Edmund DeJarnette, Jr. – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: November 21, 1989
**Presented credentials: February 26, 1990
**Terminated mission: Left post September 12, 1992
*Peter Jon de Vos – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: June 15, 1992
**Presented credentials: January 8, 1993
**Terminated mission: Left post June 3, 1994
*Brady Anderson – Political appointee
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: August 26, 1994
**Presented credentials: September 13, 1994
**Terminated mission: Left post October 7, 1997
*Charles Richard Stith – Political appointee
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: June 29, 1998
**Presented credentials: September 17, 1998
**Terminated mission: Left post January 20, 2001
*Robert V. Royall – Political appointee
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: November 5, 2001
**Presented credentials: December 19, 2001
**Terminated mission: November 21, 2003
*Note: The post was vacant from November 2003 until August 2005. Michael S. Owen served as chargé d’affaires "ad interim" during that time.
*Michael Retzer – Career FSO
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: August 2, 2005
**Presented credentials: March 9, 2005
**Terminated mission: "Incumbent"
*Mark Green – Political appointee
**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
**Appointed: June 5, 2007
**Presented credentials: Pending
**Terminated mission: "Incumbent"

Notes

References

*Tanzania
*Zanzibar
*Tanganyika
*History of Tanzania
* [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/po/com/11317.htm United States Department of State: Ambassadors to Tanzania]
* [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2843.htm United States Department of State: Background notes on Tanzania]
*StateDept

ee also

*Ambassadors from the United States
*Foreign relations of Tanzania

External links

* [http://tanzania.usembassy.gov/ United States Embassy in Dar es Salaam]
* [http://foia.state.gov/MMS/KOH/key_country.asp?ID=Tanzania United States Department of State: Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts: Tanzania]