List of ambassadors of the United States to Spain

This is a list of United States ambassadors to Spain from 1779 to the present day. The ambassador to Spain is also credentialed to Andorra.

Chiefs of mission

# Name Image Type of appointee Title Appointment Presentation of credentials Termination of mission President(s) -William CarmichaelChargé d'AffairesApr 20, 1790No report has been found concerning Carmichael's presentation of credentials as Chargé d'Affaires en titre; he had already been received as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim, May 20, 1782.Presented recall Sep 5, 1794 George Washington(Unaffiliated)1William ShortMinister ResidentMay 28, 1794Sep 7, 1794Left post, Nov 1, 17952David HumphreysMinister PlenipotentiaryMay 20, 1796Sep 10, 1797Probably presented recall soon after December 28, 1801 John Adams(Federalist) Thomas Jefferson(Democratic-Republican)3Charles PinckneyJun 6, 1801Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on January 26, 1802.January–March 1802Presented recall, Oct 25, 1804 -George W. ErvingChargé d'Affaires ad interimOct 1805Feb 1810 James Madison(Democratic-Republican)4Minister PlenipotentiaryAug 10, 1814Commissioned during a recess of the Senate. Nominated confirmed by the Senate, Oct 3, 1814; commission following confirmation not of recordAug 24, 1816Left post, May 15, 1819 James Monroe(Democratic-Republican)5John ForsythFeb 16, 1819May 18, 1819Had farewell audience, Mar 2, 18236Hugh NelsonJan 15, 1823Dec 4, 1823Presented recall Jul 10, 1825 John Quincy Adams(Democratic-Republican)7Alexander Hill EverettEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryMar 9, 1825Sep 4, 1825Left post Aug 1, 1829 Andrew Jackson(Democratic)8Cornelius P. Van NessJun 1, 1829Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Feb 10, 1830Dec 9, 1829Presented recall, Dec 21, 18369John H. EatonMar 16, 1836No report has been found of Eaton's presentation of credentials, which probably took place about February 1, 1837 Left post, May 1, 1840 Martin Van Buren(Democratic) -Aaron VailChargé d'AffairesMay 20, 1840Nov 5, 1840Superseded, Aug 1, 1842 William Henry Harrison(Whig) John Tyler(Whig/Unaffiliated)10Washington IrvingEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryFeb 10, 1842Aug 1, 1842Presented recall, Jul 29, 1846 James K. Polk(Democratic)11Romulus M. SaundersFeb 25, 1846Jul 31, 1846Presented recall, Sep 24, 1849 Zachary Taylor(Whig)12Daniel M. BarringerJun 18, 1849Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Sep 28, 1850October 24, 1849Presented recall Sep 4, 1853 Millard Fillmore(Whig) Franklin Pierce(Democratic)13Pierre SouleApr 7, 1853Oct 24, 1853Presented recall, Feb 1, 185514Angus C. DodgeFeb 9, 1855Jun 17, 1855Presented recall, Mar 12, 1859 James Buchanan(Democratic)15William PrestonDec 15, 1858Mar 12, 1859Presented recall, May 24, 1861 Abraham Lincoln(Republican)16Carl SchurzMar 28, 1861Jul 13, 1861Left post, Dec 18, 186117Gustavus KoernerJun 14, 1862Nov 4, 1862Left post, Jul 20, 186418John P. HaleMar 10, 1865Sep 30, 1865Presented recall, Jul 29, 1869 Andrew Johnson(National Union/Democratic) Ulysses S. Grant(Republican)19Daniel E. SicklesMay 15, 1869Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Mar 16, 1870July 29, 1869Presented new credentials on Feb 2, 1871, after change of government; transmitted recall by note Jan 31, 187420Caleb CushingJan 6, 1874May 30, 1874Presented new credentials on Mar 10, 1875, after restoration of monarchy; left post, Apr 9, 1877 Rutherford B. Hayes(Republican)21James Russell LowellJun 11, 1877Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after conformation on Oct 30, 1877Aug 18, 1877Presented recall, Mar 2, 188022Lucius FairchildJan 26, 1880Mar 31, 1880Presented recall, Dec 20, 1881 James A. Garfield(Republican) Chester A. Arthur(Republican)23Hannibal HamlinJun 30, 1881Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Oct 13, 1881Dec 20, 1881Left post, Oct 17, 188224John W. FosterFeb 27, 1883Jun 16, 1883Presented recall, Aug 28, 1885 Grover Cleveland(Democratic)25Jabez L.M. CurryOct 7, 1885Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Jan 13, 1886Dec 22, 1885Left post, Jul 5, 188826Perry BelmontNov 17, 1888Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Dec 13, 1888Feb 13, 1889Left post, May 1, 1889 Benjamin Harrison(Republican)27Thomas W. PalmerMar 12, 1889Jun 17, 1889Left post, Apr 19, 189028E. Burd GrubbSep 27, 1890Dec 23, 1890Left post, May 26, 189229A. Loudon SnowdenJul 22, 1892Oct 6, 1892Presented recall, Jun 3, 1893 Grover Cleveland(Democratic)30Hannis TaylorApr 8, 1893Jul 1, 1893Presented recall, Sep 13, 1897 William McKinley(Republican)31Stewart L. WoodfordJun 19, 1897Sep 13, 1897Spain severed diplomatic relations with the U.S., Apr 21, 1898Woodford left post, Apr 21, 1898. The United States declared war on Spain as of that date by Act of Congress approved April 25, 189832Bellamy StorerApr 12, 1899Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Dec 14, 1899Jun 16, 1899Presented recall, Dec 10, 1902 Theodore Roosevelt(Republican)33Arthur S. HardySep 26, 1902Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Dec 8, 1902Mar 2, 1903Presented recall, May 1, 190534William Miller CollierMar 8, 1905May 15, 1905Superseded, Jun 9, 1909 William Howard Taft(Republican)35Henry Clay IdeApr 1, 1909Jun 9, 1909Left post, Jul 8, 1913 Woodrow Wilson(Democratic)36Joseph E. WillardNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySep 10, 1913Oct 31, 1913Left post, Jul 7, 1921 Warren G. Harding(Republican)37Cyrus E. WoodsJun 24, 1921Oct 14, 1921Left post, Apr 18, 192338Alexander P. MooreMar 3, 1923May 16, 1923Left post, Dec 20, 1925 Calvin Coolidge(Republican)39Ogden H. HammondDec 21, 1925Mar 26, 1926Left post, Oct 13, 1929 Herbert Hoover(Republican)40Irwin B. LaughlinForeign Service officerOct 16, 1929Dec 24, 1929Left post, Apr 12, 1933 Franklin D. Roosevelt(Democratic)41Claude G. BowersNon-career appointeeApr 6, 1933Jun 1, 1933Had final interview, Feb 2, 1939Bowers was resident during the last part of his Ambassadorship at St. Jean de Luz in France; he left that post, Jun 14, 1939, his appointment having terminated May 14, 1939. The Embassy had meanwhile been re-established in Spain on Apr 13, 1939, when H. Freeman Matthews had been received at Burgos as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim -H. Freeman MatthewsCareer Foreign Service OfficerChargé d'Affaires ad interimApr 13, 193942Alexander W. WeddellForeign Service officerAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMay 3, 1939Jun 15, 1939Left post, Feb 7, 194243Carlton J. H. HayesNon-career appointeeMay 2, 1942Jun 9, 1942Left Spain, Jan 18, 194544Norman ArmourForeign Service officerDec 15, 1944Mar 24, 1945Left post, Dec 1, 1945 Harry S. Truman(Democratic) -Philip W. BonsalCareer Foreign Service OfficerChargé d'Affaires ad interimMar 1946Jun 1947 -Paul T. CulbertsonJun 1947Dec 195045Stanton GriffisNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryFeb 1, 1951Mar 1, 1951Relinquished charge, Jan 28, 195246Lincoln MacVeaghFeb 21, 1952Mar 27, 1952Left post, Mar 4, 1953 Dwight D. Eisenhower(Republican)47James Clement DunnForeign Service officerFeb 27, 1953Apr 9, 1953Left post, Feb 9, 195548John LodgeNon-career appointeeJan 22, 1955Mar 24, 1955Left post, Apr 13, 1961 John F. Kennedy(Democratic)49Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr.Mar 29, 1961May 25, 1961Left Spain, Oct 12, 196150Robert F. WoodwardForeign Service officerApr 7, 1962May 10, 1962Left post, Feb 1, 1965 Lyndon B. Johnson(Democratic)51Angier Biddle DukeNon-career appointeeMar 11, 1965Apr 1, 1965Left post Mar 30, 196852Robert F. WagnerJun 24, 1968Jul 4, 1968Left post, Mar 7, 1969 Richard Nixon(Republican)53Robert C. HillMay 1, 1969Jun 12, 1969Left post, Jun 12, 197254Horacio Rivero Jr.Sep 11, 1972Oct 11, 1972Left post, Nov 26, 1974 Gerald Ford(Republican)55Wells StablerForeign Service officerFeb 20, 1975Mar 13, 1975Left post, May 4, 1978 Jimmy Carter(Democratic)56Terence A. TodmanMay 25, 1978Jul 20, 1978Left post, Aug 8, 1983 Ronald Reagan(Republican)57Thomas Ostrom EndersAug 5, 1983Sep 15, 1983Left post Jul 6, 198658Reginald BartholomewAug 18, 1986Sep 17, 1986Left post, Mar 12, 1989 George H. W. Bush(Republican)59Joseph ZappalaNon-career appointeeOct 10, 1989Oct 16, 1989Left post, Jun 4, 199260Richard Goodwin Capen, Jr.Jun 15, 1992Jul 8, 1992Left post, Feb 17, 1993 Bill Clinton(Democratic)61Richard N. GardnerSep 16, 1993Nov 4, 1993Left post, Jul 12, 199762Edward L. RomeroApr 2, 1998Jun 30, 1998Left post, May 1, 2001 George W. Bush(Republican)63George L. ArgyrosAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryAlso credited to Andorra; resident at Madrid.Nov 21, 2001Dec 13, 2001Left post, Nov 21, 200464Eduardo AguirreJun 21, 2005Jun 29, 2005Jan 20, 200965Alan SolomontDec 29, 2009Jan 27, 2010Left post Jun 28, 2013 Barack Obama(Democratic)66James CostosAug 19, 2013Sep 24, 2013Left post Jan 18, 201767Richard Duke Buchan IIINov 20, 2017Apr 3, 2018Left post Jan 20, 2021 Donald Trump(Republican) -Conrad TribbleForeign Service officer Chargé d'Affaires ad interimJan 20, 2021Feb 2, 2022 Joe Biden(Democratic)68Julissa Reynoso PantaleónNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJan 7, 2022Feb 2, 2022July 12, 2024 -Rian Harker HarrisForeign Service officer Chargé d'Affaires ad interimJuly 15, 2024February 16, 202669Benjamin LeonNon-career appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryDecember 18, 2025February 18, 2026Present Donald Trump(Republican)

Other nominees Name Portrait Type of appointee Title Appointment NoteJohn JayMinister PlenipotentiarySep 29, 1779Proceeded to post, but was not formally received at court; left post about May 20, 1782James BowdoinNov 22, 1804Did not proceed to postWilliam T. BarryEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryApr 10, 1853Took oath of office but died en route to post. Commissioned during a recess of the SenateJohn C. BreckinridgeJan 16, 1855Declined appointmentCassius M. ClayApr 14, 1861William S. RosecransNot commissioned; nomination tabled by the SenateHenry S. SanfordJoseph E. WillardNon-career appointeeJul 28, 1913Took oath of office, but did not proceed to post under this appointmentEllis O. BriggsForeign Service officerAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryNot commissioned; nomination withdrawn before the Senate acted upon it.Frank E. McKinneyNon-career appointeeMay 11, 1968Took oath of office, but did not proceed to post under this appointmentPeter M. FlaniganNot commissioned; nomination of Sep 17, 1974 was not acted upon the Senate

Notes

See also Spain – United States relations Foreign relations of Spain Ambassadors of the United States List of ambassadors of Spain to the United States

References United States Department of State: Background notes on Spain

External links United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Spain United States Department of State: Spain United States Embassy in Madrid