The United States first established diplomatic relations with the Russian Empire in 1780. Diplomatic relations were broken off in 1917 when the Bolsheviks seized power, and they were not reestablished until 1933. From 1933 to 1991, the United States recognized the Soviet Union. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Ambassador's title was changed to Ambassador to Russia.
Name |
State |
Appointment |
Presentation |
Termination |
Notes |
Dana, FrancisFrancis Dana |
Massachusetts |
000000001780-12-19-0000December 19, 1780 |
|
September 1783 |
Proceeded to post, but was not officially received at court. |
Short, WilliamWilliam Short |
Virginia |
000000001808-09-08-0000September 8, 1808 |
|
|
Commissioned during a recess of the Senate. Did not proceed to post, his nomination having been rejected by the Senate while he was en route. |
Adams, John QuincyJohn Quincy Adams |
Massachusetts |
000000001809-06-27-0000June 27, 1809 |
000000001809-11-05-0000November 5, 1809 |
000000001814-04-28-0000April 28, 1814 |
Nomination of March 6, 1809 rejected by the Senate; nomination of June 26, 1809 confirmed. |
James A. Bayard |
Delaware |
000000001815-02-28-0000February 28, 1815 |
|
|
Did not proceed to post. |
Pinkney, WilliamWilliam Pinkney |
Maryland |
000000001816-03-07-0000March 7, 1816 |
000000001817-01-13-0000January 13, 1817 |
000000001818-02-14-0000February 14, 1818 |
|
Campbell, George WashingtonGeorge Washington Campbell |
Tennessee |
000000001818-04-16-0000April 16, 1818 |
000000001819-02-07-0000February 7, 1819 |
000000001820-07-08-0000July 8, 1820 |
|
Middleton, HenryHenry Middleton |
South Carolina |
000000001820-04-06-0000April 6, 1820 |
000000001821-06-17-0000June 17, 1821 |
000000001830-08-03-0000August 3, 1830 |
|
Randolph, JohnJohn Randolph |
Virginia |
000000001830-05-26-0000May 26, 1830 |
|
000000001830-09-19-0000September 19, 1830 |
Proceeded to post, but did not present credentials. |
Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan |
Pennsylvania |
000000001832-01-04-0000January 4, 1832 |
000000001832-06-11-0000June 11, 1832 |
000000001833-08-05-0000August 5, 1833 |
|
Dickerson, MahlonMahlon Dickerson |
New Jersey |
000000001834-05-28-0000May 28, 1834 |
|
|
Declined appointment. |
Wilkins, WilliamWilliam Wilkins |
Pennsylvania |
June 30, 1834 |
000000001834-12-14-0000December 14, 1834 |
000000001835-12-24-0000December 24, 1835 |
|
Clay, John RandolphJohn Randolph Clay |
Pennsylvania |
000000001836-06-29-0000June 29, 1836 |
000000001836-09-02-0000September 2, 1836 |
000000001837-08-05-0000August 5, 1837 |
|
Dallas, George M.George M. Dallas |
Pennsylvania |
000000001837-03-07-0000March 7, 1837 |
000000001837-08-06-0000August 6, 1837 |
000000001839-07-29-0000July 29, 1839 |
|
Churchill C. Cambreleng |
New York |
000000001840-05-25-0000May 25, 1840 |
000000001840-09-21-0000September 21, 1840 |
000000001841-07-13-0000July 13, 1841 |
Commissioned not of record; letter of credence issued on May 25, 1840. |
Todd, Charles StewartCharles Stewart Todd |
Kentucky |
000000001841-08-27-0000August 27, 1841 |
000000001841-11-28-0000November 28, 1841 |
000000001846-01-27-0000January 27, 1846 |
|
Ingersoll, Ralph I.Ralph I. Ingersoll |
Connecticut |
000000001846-08-08-0000August 8, 1846 |
000000001847-05-30-0000May 30, 1847 |
000000001848-07-01-0000July 1, 1848 |
|
Bagby, Arthur P.Arthur P. Bagby |
Alabama |
000000001848-06-15-0000June 15, 1848 |
000000001849-01-14-0000January 14, 1849 |
000000001849-05-14-0000May 14, 1849 |
|
Brown, Neill S.Neill S. Brown |
Tennessee |
000000001850-05-02-0000May 2, 1850 |
000000001850-08-13-0000August 13, 1850 |
000000001853-06-23-0000June 23, 1853 |
|
Seymour, Thomas H.Thomas H. Seymour |
Connecticut |
000000001853-05-24-0000May 24, 1853 |
000000001854-04-02-0000April 2, 1854 |
000000001858-07-17-0000July 17, 1858 |
Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on December 6, 1853. |
Pickens, Francis W.Francis W. Pickens |
South Carolina |
000000001858-01-11-0000January 11, 1858 |
000000001858-07-18-0000July 18, 1858 |
000000001860-09-09-0000September 9, 1860 |
|
Appleton, JohnJohn Appleton |
Maine |
000000001860-06-08-0000June 8, 1860 |
000000001860-09-09-0000September 9, 1860 |
000000001861-06-08-0000June 8, 1861 |
|
Clay, Cassius MarcellusCassius Marcellus Clay |
Kentucky |
000000001861-03-28-0000March 28, 1861 |
000000001861-07-14-0000July 14, 1861 |
000000001862-06-25-0000June 25, 1862 |
|
Cameron, SimonSimon Cameron |
Pennsylvania |
000000001862-01-17-0000January 17, 1862 |
000000001862-06-25-0000June 25, 1862 |
000000001862-09-18-0000September 18, 1862 |
|
Clay, Cassius MarcellusCassius Marcellus Clay |
Kentucky |
000000001863-03-11-0000March 11, 1863 |
000000001863-05-07-0000May 7, 1863 |
000000001869-10-01-0000October 1, 1869 |
|
Dawson, John L.John L. Dawson |
Pennsylvania |
|
|
|
Not commissioned; nomination rejected by the Senate. |
Smythe, Henry A.Henry A. Smythe |
New York |
|
|
|
Not commissioned; nomination tabled by the Senate. |
Curtin, Andrew G.Andrew G. Curtin |
Pennsylvania |
000000001869-04-16-0000April 16, 1869 |
000000001869-10-28-0000October 28, 1869 |
000000001872-07-01-0000July 1, 1872 |
|
Orr, James LawrenceJames Lawrence Orr |
South Carolina |
000000001872-12-12-0000December 12, 1872 |
000000001873-03-18-0000March 18, 1873 |
000000001873-05-06-0000May 6, 1873 |
|
Jewell, MarshallMarshall Jewell |
Connecticut |
000000001873-05-29-0000May 29, 1873 |
000000001873-12-09-0000December 9, 1873 |
000000001874-07-19-0000July 19, 1874 |
Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on December 10, 1873. |
Boker, George H.George H. Boker |
Pennsylvania |
000000001875-01-13-0000January 13, 1875 |
000000001875-07-24-0000July 24, 1875 |
000000001878-01-14-0000January 14, 1878 |
|
Stoughton, Edwin W.Edwin W. Stoughton |
New York |
000000001877-10-30-0000October 30, 1877 |
000000001878-01-14-0000January 14, 1878 |
000000001879-03-02-0000March 2, 1879 |
|
Foster, John W.John W. Foster |
Indiana |
000000001880-01-26-0000January 26, 1880 |
000000001880-06-11-0000June 11, 1880 |
000000001881-08-01-0000August 1, 1881 |
|
Hunt, William H.William H. Hunt |
Louisiana |
000000001882-04-12-0000April 12, 1882 |
000000001882-08-23-0000August 23, 1882 |
000000001884-02-27-0000February 27, 1884 |
Died at post. |
Sargent, Aaron AugustusAaron Augustus Sargent |
California |
|
|
|
Not commissioned although nomination was confirmed by the Senate. |
Taft, AlphonsoAlphonso Taft |
Ohio |
000000001884-07-04-0000July 4, 1884 |
000000001884-09-03-0000September 3, 1884 |
000000001885-07-31-0000July 31, 1885 |
|
Lawton, Alexander R.Alexander R. Lawton |
Georgia |
|
|
|
Not commissioned; nomination withdrawn before the Senate acted upon it. |
Lothrop, George V. N.George V. N. Lothrop |
Michigan |
000000001885-05-07-0000May 7, 1885 |
000000001885-07-31-0000July 31, 1885 |
000000001888-08-01-0000August 1, 1888 |
Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on January 13, 1886. |
Tree, LambertLambert Tree |
Illinois |
000000001888-09-25-0000September 25, 1888 |
000000001889-01-04-0000January 4, 1889 |
000000001889-02-02-0000February 2, 1889 |
|
Rice, C. Allen ThorndikeC. Allen Thorndike Rice |
New York |
000000001889-03-30-0000March 30, 1889 |
|
|
Took oath of office, but died in the United States before proceeding to post. |
Smith, Charles EmoryCharles Emory Smith |
Pennsylvania |
000000001890-02-14-0000February 14, 1890 |
000000001890-05-14-0000May 14, 1890 |
000000001892-04-17-0000April 17, 1892 |
|
White, Andrew D.Andrew D. White |
New York |
000000001892-07-22-0000July 22, 1892 |
000000001892-11-07-0000November 7, 1892 |
000000001894-10-01-0000October 1, 1894 |
|
Breckinridge, Clifton R.Clifton R. Breckinridge |
Arkansas |
000000001894-07-20-0000July 20, 1894 |
000000001894-11-01-0000November 1, 1894 |
000000001897-12-10-0000December 10, 1897 |
Officially recognized on November 1, 1894. |
Hitchcock, Ethan A.Ethan A. Hitchcock |
Missouri |
000000001897-08-16-0000August 16, 1897 |
000000001897-12-16-0000December 16, 1897 |
|
Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on December 18, 1897. |
Hitchcock, Ethan A.Ethan A. Hitchcock |
Missouri |
000000001898-02-11-0000February 11, 1898 |
000000001898-03-21-0000March 21, 1898 |
000000001899-01-28-0000January 28, 1899 |
Position upgraded to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. |
Tower, Jr., CharlemagneCharlemagne Tower, Jr. |
Pennsylvania |
000000001899-01-12-0000January 12, 1899 |
000000001899-03-19-0000March 19, 1899 |
000000001902-11-19-0000November 19, 1902 |
|
McCormick, Robert S.Robert S. McCormick |
Illinois |
000000001902-09-26-0000September 26, 1902 |
000000001903-01-12-0000January 12, 1903 |
000000001905-03-27-0000March 27, 1905 |
Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on December 8, 1902. |
Meyer, George von LengerkeGeorge von Lengerke Meyer |
Massachusetts |
000000001905-03-08-0000March 8, 1905 |
000000001905-04-12-0000April 12, 1905 |
000000001907-01-26-0000January 26, 1907 |
|
Riddle, John W.John W. Riddle |
Minnesota |
000000001906-12-19-0000December 19, 1906 |
000000001907-02-08-0000February 8, 1907 |
000000001909-09-08-0000September 8, 1909 |
|
Rockhill, William WoodvilleWilliam Woodville Rockhill |
District of Columbia |
000000001909-05-17-0000May 17, 1909 |
000000001910-01-11-0000January 11, 1910 |
000000001911-06-17-0000June 17, 1911 |
|
Guild, CurtisCurtis Guild |
Massachusetts |
000000001911-04-24-0000April 24, 1911 |
000000001911-08-17-0000August 17, 1911 |
000000001913-04-24-0000April 24, 1913 |
|
Pindell, Henry M.Henry M. Pindell |
Illinois |
000000001914-01-27-0000January 27, 1914 |
|
|
Declined appointment.[2] |
Marye, George T.George T. Marye |
California |
000000001914-07-09-0000July 9, 1914 |
000000001914-10-30-0000October 30, 1914 |
000000001916-03-29-0000March 29, 1916 |
Resigned due to poor health.[2] |
Francis, David R.David R. Francis |
Missouri |
000000001916-03-06-0000March 6, 1916 |
000000001916-05-05-0000May 5, 1916 |
000000001917-11-07-0000November 7, 1917 |
Normal relations interrupted, November 7, 1917; new Government of Russia still unrecognized by the United States when Francis left Russia on November 7, 1918. He was serving as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim when Embassy in Russia was closed September 14, 1919. |
Name |
State |
Appointment |
Presentation |
Termination |
Notes |
Bullitt, Jr., William ChristianWilliam Christian Bullitt, Jr. |
Pennsylvania |
000000001933-11-21-0000November 21, 1933 |
000000001933-12-13-0000December 13, 1933 |
000000001936-05-16-0000May 16, 1936 |
Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on January 15, 1934. |
Davies, Joseph E.Joseph E. Davies |
District of Columbia |
000000001936-11-16-0000November 16, 1936 |
000000001937-01-25-0000January 25, 1937 |
000000001938-06-11-0000June 11, 1938 |
Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on January 23, 1937. |
Steinhardt, Laurence A.Laurence A. Steinhardt |
New York |
000000001939-03-23-0000March 23, 1939 |
000000001939-08-11-0000August 11, 1939 |
000000001941-11-12-0000November 12, 1941 |
|
Standley, William H.William H. Standley |
California |
000000001942-02-14-0000February 14, 1942 |
000000001942-04-14-0000April 14, 1942 |
000000001943-09-19-0000September 19, 1943 |
|
Harriman, W. AverellW. Averell Harriman |
New York |
000000001943-10-07-0000October 7, 1943 |
000000001943-10-23-0000October 23, 1943 |
000000001946-01-24-0000January 24, 1946 |
|
Smith, Walter BedellWalter Bedell Smith |
|
000000001946-03-22-0000March 22, 1946 |
000000001946-04-03-0000April 3, 1946 |
000000001948-12-25-0000December 25, 1948 |
|
Kirk, Alan G.Alan G. Kirk |
|
000000001949-05-21-0000May 21, 1949 |
000000001949-07-04-0000July 4, 1949 |
000000001951-10-06-0000October 6, 1951 |
|
Kennan, George F.George F. Kennan |
Pennsylvania |
000000001952-03-14-0000March 14, 1952 |
000000001952-05-14-0000May 14, 1952 |
000000001952-09-19-0000September 19, 1952 |
The Government of the Soviet Union declared Kennan persona non grata on October 3, 1952, and he did not return to his post. |
Bohlen, Charles E.Charles E. Bohlen |
District of Columbia |
000000001953-03-27-0000March 27, 1953 |
000000001953-04-20-0000April 20, 1953 |
000000001957-04-18-0000April 18, 1957 |
|
Thompson, LlewellynLlewellyn Thompson |
Colorado |
000000001957-06-03-0000June 3, 1957 |
000000001957-07-16-0000July 16, 1957 |
000000001962-07-27-0000July 27, 1962 |
|
Kohler, Foy D.Foy D. Kohler |
Ohio |
000000001962-08-20-0000August 20, 1962 |
000000001962-09-27-0000September 27, 1962 |
000000001966-11-14-0000November 14, 1966 |
|
Thompson, LlewellynLlewellyn Thompson |
Colorado |
000000001966-10-13-0000October 13, 1966 |
000000001967-01-23-0000January 23, 1967 |
000000001969-01-14-0000January 14, 1969 |
|
Beam, Jacob D.Jacob D. Beam |
|
000000001969-03-14-0000March 14, 1969 |
000000001969-04-18-0000April 18, 1969 |
000000001973-01-24-0000January 24, 1973 |
Adolph Dubs served as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim between January 1973 and March 1974. |
Stoessel, Jr., Walter J.Walter J. Stoessel, Jr. |
|
000000001973-12-19-0000December 19, 1973 |
000000001974-03-04-0000March 4, 1974 |
000000001976-09-13-0000September 13, 1976 |
|
Toon, MalcolmMalcolm Toon |
New York |
000000001976-11-24-0000November 24, 1976 |
000000001977-01-18-0000January 18, 1977 |
000000001979-10-16-0000October 16, 1979 |
Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on June 8, 1977. |
Watson, Jr., Thomas J.Thomas J. Watson, Jr. |
Connecticut |
000000001979-10-10-0000October 10, 1979 |
000000001979-10-29-0000October 29, 1979 |
000000001981-01-15-0000January 15, 1981 |
|
Hartman, Arthur A.Arthur A. Hartman |
Maryland |
000000001981-09-28-0000September 28, 1981 |
000000001981-10-26-0000October 26, 1981 |
000000001987-02-20-0000February 20, 1987 |
|
Matlock, Jr., Jack F.Jack F. Matlock, Jr. |
Florida |
000000001987-03-12-0000March 12, 1987 |
000000001987-04-06-0000April 6, 1987 |
000000001991-08-11-0000August 11, 1991 |
|
Strauss, Robert S.Robert S. Strauss |
Texas |
000000001991-08-02-0000August 2, 1991 |
000000001991-08-24-0000August 24, 1991 |
000000001992-11-19-0000November 19, 1992 |
Commissioned to the USSR - continued to serve as Ambassador to Russia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. |