This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to Lesotho.
Prior to 1965, the area of southern Africa that is now Lesotho was a British protectorate by the name of Basutoland. Along with most of the Empire’s other colonies and protectorates, Basutoland gained full independence from Britain in the 1960s. The nation was granted full autonomy on April 30, 1965. On October 4, 1966, Basutoland was granted independence, governed by a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament. At the same time the name of the country was changed to The Kingdom of Lesotho.
The United States immediately recognized Lesotho after the nation gained its independence. An embassy in Maseru was established on October 4, 1966, Lesotho’s independence day. Richard St. F. Post was appointed as chargé d'affaires ad interim pending the arrival of an ambassador. The first ambassador, Charles J. Nelson was appointed on June 9, 1971.
Note: Pending appointment of the first ambassador, the following officers served as chargé d'affaires ad interim: Richard St. F. Post (October 1966–July 1968), Norman E. Barth (July 1968–August 1969), and Stephen G. Gebelt (October 1969–December 1970).
Note: Until 1979 one ambassador was accredited to Lesotho, Swaziland, and Botswana. The ambassador was resident in Gaborone, Botswana.
Charles J. Nelson – Career FSOTitle: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: June 9, 1971
Presented credentials: September 23, 1971
Terminated mission: Left Gaborone, March 2, 1974
David B. Bolen – Career FSOTitle: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: February 28, 1974
Presented credentials: April 25, 1974
Terminated mission: Left Gaborone, August 11, 1976
Donald R. Norland – Career FSOTitle: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: November 17, 1976
Presented credentials: January 6, 1977
Terminated mission: Left Gaborone, October 6, 1979
Note: Beginning in 1979, the ambassador was accredited solely to Lesotho and resident in Maseru.
John R. Clingerman – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: September 28, 1979
Presented credentials: November 1, 1979
Terminated mission: Left post, November 15, 1981
Keith Lapham Brown – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: March 9, 1982
Presented credentials: March 25, 1982
Terminated mission: Left post, December 1, 1983
Shirley Abbott – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: May 11, 1984
Presented credentials: July 3, 1984
Terminated mission: Left post, July 7, 1989
Robert M. Smalley – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: June 15, 1987
Presented credentials: July 2, 1987
Terminated mission: Left post, July 7, 1989
Jerry Alexander Moore, Jr. – Political appointeeTitle: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed:
Presented credentials:
Terminated mission:
Note: Howard F. Jeter served as chargé d'affaires ad interim July 1989–January 1991.
Leonard H. O. Spearman – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: October 22, 1990
Presented credentials: January 24, 1991
Terminated mission: Left post, April 25, 1993
Note: Karl Hoffmann served as chargé d'affaires ad interim, April 1993–April 1995.
Bismarck Myrick – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: March 4, 1995
Presented credentials: April 27, 1995
Terminated mission: Left post June 10, 1998
Katherine Canavan – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: June 29, 1998
Presented credentials: September 18, 1998
Terminated mission: Left post June 1, 2001
Robert Geers Loftis – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: August 6, 2001
Presented credentials: October 11, 2001
Terminated mission: Left post June 18, 2004
June Carter Perry – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: July 2, 2004
Presented credentials: September 23, 2004
Terminated mission: 2007
Robert B. Nolan – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: September 26, 2007
Presented credentials: October 10, 2007
Terminated mission: September 3, 2010
Michele T. Bond – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: September 14, 2010
Presented credentials: October 28, 2010
Terminated mission: 2012
On 1 August 2013, the White House announced the nomination of career Foreign Service officer Matthew T. Harrington to serve as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Lesotho, pending Senate confirmation.
