The United States Ambassador to Argentina is the official representative of the President of the United States to the head of state of Argentina.
Argentina had declared its independence from Spain in 1816 and there followed a series of revolutionary wars until 1861 when the nation was united. The United States recognized the government of Buenos Aires, the predecessor to Argentina, on January 27, 1823. Caesar Augustus Rodney was appointed as American Minister Plenipotentiary to Buenos Aires. Between 1854 and 1866, U.S. ambassadors were commissioned to the Argentine Confederation. Since 1867, ambassadors have been commissioned to the Argentine Republic.
Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Argentina were interrupted but not severed in June 1944 when the U.S. government recalled its ambassador in a dispute with the newly appointed dictator Edelmiro Julián Farrell. The U.S. government believed that Farrell was not committed to the defense of the Western Hemisphere against the Axis powers. Normal relations were resumed with the appointment of a new ambassador in April 1945 when Argentina declared war against Germany.
The official residence of the U.S. Ambassador in Buenos Aires is the Bosch Palace, listed on the State Department's Register of Culturally Significant Property.
Ambassadors and chiefs of mission
Caesar A. RodneyTitle: Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointed: January 27, 1823
Presented credentials: December 27, 1823
Terminated mission: Died at post, June 10, 1824
John Murray ForbesTitle: Chargé d'Affaires
Appointed: March 9, 1825
Presented credentials: August 20, 1825
Terminated mission: Died at post June 14, 1831
Francis BayliesTitle: Chargé d'Affaires
Appointed: January 3, 1832
Presented credentials: June 15, 1832
Terminated mission: Left post September 26, 1832
William Brent, Jr.Title: Chargé d'Affaires
Appointed: June 14, 1844
Presented credentials: November 15, 1844
Terminated mission: Presented recall July 7, 1846
William A. HarrisTitle: Chargé d'Affaires
Appointed: February 19, 1846
Presented credentials: July 7, 1846
Terminated mission: Probably presented recall before September 12, 1851
John S. PendletonTitle: Chargé d'Affaires
Appointed: February 27, 1851
Presented credentials: September 12, 1851 or soon thereafter
Terminated mission: Relinquished charge from Montevideo, Uruguay March 31, 1854
William Henry BissellTitle: Chargé d'Affaires
Appointed: May 24, 1853
Presented credentials: —
Terminated mission: —
Note: Beginning with Minister Peden, the office was upgraded to Minister Resident
James A. PedenTitle: Minister Resident
Appointed: June 29, 1854
Presented credentials: December 1, 1854
Terminated mission: Presented recall December 1, 1858
Note: Minister Peden resided at Buenos Aires until about May 1, 1857, when he closed the Legation at that city and moved to Paraná, the capital of the Argentine Confederation. The U.S. Legation to the Argentine Confederation remained there until February 25, 1862, when Ambassador Palmer returned it to Buenos Aires, following reunification of the country.
Mirabeau B. LamarTitle: Minister Resident
Appointed: —
Presented credentials: —
Terminated mission: —
Benjamin C. YanceyTitle: Minister Resident
Appointed: June 14, 1858
Presented credentials: December 1, 1858
Terminated mission: Transmitted recall by note from Montevideo, Uruguay, September 30, 1859
John F. CushmanTitle: Minister Resident
Appointed: July 18, 1859
Presented credentials: December 22, 1859
Terminated mission: Relinquished charge February 17, 1861
Note: Ambassador Palmer moved the U.S. Legation back from Paraná to Buenos Aires in 1862.
Robert M. PalmerTitle: Minister Resident
Appointed: March 28, 1861
Presented credentials: October 5, 1861
Terminated mission: Left post about April 12, 1862
Robert C. KirkTitle: Minister Resident
Appointed: March 4, 1862
Presented credentials: June 21, 1862
Terminated mission: Left post July 26, 1866
Alexander AsbothTitle: Minister Resident
Appointed: March 12, 1866
Presented credentials: October 20, 1866
Terminated mission: Died at post January 21, 1868
Henry G. WorthingtonTitle: Minister Resident
Appointed: June 5, 1868
Presented credentials: September 11, 1868
Terminated mission: Presented recall July 8, 1869
Robert C. KirkTitle: Minister Resident
Appointed: April 16, 1869
Presented credentials: July 8, 1869
Terminated mission: Presented recall November 4, 1871
Julius WhiteTitle: Minister Resident
Appointed: December 12, 1872
Presented credentials: May 6, 1873
Terminated mission: Left post November 14, 1873
Thomas O. Osborn
Title: Minister Resident
Appointed: February 10, 1874
Presented credentials: May 21, 1874
Terminated mission: Recommissioned as Minister Resident/Consul General July 7, 1884
Thomas O. OsbornTitle: Minister Resident/Consul General
Appointed: July 7, 1884
Presented credentials: (previously presented May 21, 1874
Terminated mission: Probably presented recall on or before October 15, 1885
Bayless W. Hanna – Career FSO
Title: Minister Resident/Consul General
Appointed: June 17, 1885
Presented credentials: October 15, 1885
Terminated mission: Promoted to Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary July 1, 1887
Note: In 1887, during Hanna’s term, the office was upgraded to Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, which required a new appointment for Hanna.
Bayless W. HannaTitle: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointed: July 1, 1887
Presented credentials: February 15, 1888
Terminated mission: Left post July 8, 1889
John R. G. PitkinTitle: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointed: July 26, 1889
Presented credentials: October 31, 1889
Terminated mission: Left post August 15, 1893
William I. Buchanan
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointed: January 26, 1894
Presented credentials: May 19, 1894
Terminated mission: Left post July 11, 1899
William Paine LordTitle: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointed: October 16, 1899
Presented credentials: February 14, 1900
Terminated mission: Left post March 27, 1903
John BarrettTitle: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointed: July 2, 1903
Presented credentials:
Terminated mission:
Arthur M. Beaupre
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointed: March 17, 1904
Presented credentials: June 17, 1904
Terminated mission: Left post May 2, 1908
Spencer F. Eddy
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointed: April 2, 1908
Presented credentials: August 27, 1908
Terminated mission: Left post January 2, 1909
Charles Hitchcock Sherrill
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointed: April 1, 1909
Presented credentials: June 30, 1909
Terminated mission: Left post September 16, 1910
Huntington WilsonTitle: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointed: January 11, 1909
Presented credentials: —
Terminated mission: —
Charles Hitchcock Sherrill
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointed: April 1, 1909
Presented credentials: June 30, 1909
Terminated mission: Left post September 16, 1910
John Ridgely Carter – Career FSOTitle: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointed: August 12, 1911
Presented credentials: —
Terminated mission: —
John W. Garrett – Career FSO
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointed: December 14, 1911
Presented credentials: February 29, 1912
Terminated mission: Left post November 22, 1913
Note: In 1914 the office of Envoy was upgraded to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
Frederic Jesup Stimson – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: October 1, 1914
Presented credentials: January 8, 1915
Terminated mission: Left post April 21, 1921
John W. Riddle – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: November 18, 1921
Presented credentials: March 8, 1922
Terminated mission: Left post May 28, 1925
Peter Augustus Jay – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: March 18, 1925
Presented credentials: September 24, 1925
Terminated mission: Left post December 30, 1926
Robert Woods Bliss – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: February 17, 1927
Presented credentials: September 9, 1927
Terminated mission: Left post April 29, 1933
Alexander W. Weddell – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: June 3, 1933
Presented credentials: September 18, 1933
Terminated mission: Left post October 29, 1938
Norman Armour – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: May 18, 1939
Presented credentials: June 19, 1939
Terminated mission: Recalled June 27, 1944; left post June 29, 1944
Note: Normal relations between the U.S. and Argentina were interrupted Feb 24, 1944; the U.S. did not recognize the new government of Argentina and recalled Ambassador Armour on June 27, 1944. Relations were restored when the U.S. recognized the Farrell government on April 19, 1945.
Note: The name of the chargé d'affaires a.i. or other chief of mission who served in the interim between Ambassadors Armour and Braden is not recorded.
Spruille Braden – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: May 8, 1945
Presented credentials: May 21, 1945
Terminated mission: Left post September 23, 1945
George S. Messersmith – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: April 12, 1946
Presented credentials: May 23, 1946
Terminated mission: Left post June 12, 1947
James Cabell Bruce – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: July 12, 1947
Presented credentials: August 21, 1947
Terminated mission: Left post August 20, 1949
Stanton Griffis – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: September 22, 1949
Presented credentials: November 17, 1949
Terminated mission: Left post September 23, 1950
Ellsworth Bunker – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: March 13, 1951
Presented credentials: May 8, 1951
Terminated mission: Left post March 12, 1952
Albert F. Nufer – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: May 29, 1952
Presented credentials: August 14, 1952
Terminated mission: Left post May 12, 1956
Willard L. Beaulac – Career FSOTitle: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: May 10, 1956
Presented credentials: June 1, 1956
Terminated mission: Left post August 2, 1960
Roy R. Rubottom, Jr. – Career FSOTitle: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: August 27, 1960
Presented credentials: October 20, 1960
Terminated mission: Left post October 19, 1961
Robert M. McClintock – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: February 6, 1962
Presented credentials: February 14, 1962
Terminated mission: Left post May 10, 1964
Edwin M. Martin – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: January 29, 1964
Presented credentials: June 11, 1964
Terminated mission: Left post January 5, 1968
Carter L. Burgess – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: July 24, 1968
Presented credentials: August 21, 1968
Terminated mission: Left post March 14, 1969
John Davis Lodge – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: May 27, 1969
Presented credentials: July 23, 1969
Terminated mission: Left post November 10, 1973
Robert C. Hill – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: December 19, 1973
Presented credentials: February 15, 1974
Terminated mission: Left post May 10, 1977
Raul Hector Castro – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: September 15, 1977
Presented credentials: November 16, 1977
Terminated mission: Left post July 30, 1980
Harry W. Shlaudeman – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: October 2, 1980
Presented credentials: November 4, 1980
Terminated mission: Left post August 26, 1983
Frank V. Ortiz, Jr. – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: November 18, 1983
Presented credentials: November 29, 1983
Terminated mission: Left post August 29, 1986
Theodore E. Gildred – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: October 16, 1986
Presented credentials: November 6, 1986
Terminated mission: Left post May 31, 1989
Terence A. Todman – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: April 20, 1989
Presented credentials: June 13, 1989
Terminated mission: Left post June 28, 1993
James Richard Cheek – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: May 28, 1993
Presented credentials: July 19, 1993
Terminated mission: Left post December 18, 1996
Ronald D. Godard – Career FSO
Chargé d'Affaires a.i. December 1996–October 1997
Manuel Rocha – Career FSO
Chargé d'Affaires a.i. October 1997–July 2000
Hassan Nemazee – Political appointeeTitle: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: —
Presented credentials: —
Terminated mission: —
James Donald Walsh – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: June 14, 2000
Presented credentials: July 3, 2000
Terminated mission: Left post May 21, 2003
Lino Gutierrez – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: April 16, 2003
Presented credentials: October 15, 2003
Terminated mission: Left post April 8, 2006
Earl Anthony Wayne – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: August 1, 2006
Presented credentials: January 19, 2007
Terminated mission: April 6, 2009
Vilma Socorro Martínez – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: July 24, 2009
Presented credentials: September 18, 2009
Terminated mission: July 6, 2013
Noah Mamet – political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: December 2, 2014
Presented credentials: January 21, 2015
Terminated mission: January 20, 2017
