The Kingdom of Dahomey was an overseas possession of France—part of French West Africa—until 1958. In that year Dahomey became an autonomous republic, and gained full independence in 1960. The United States immediately recognized Dahomey and began the process of initiating diplomatic relations. A U.S. Embassy at Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (then named Ivory Coast) was established with Donald L. Norland as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim. The embassy was also accredited also to Dahomey, Niger, and Upper Volta (now named Burkina Faso) while resident at Abidjan. On July 31, 1960, Chargé Norland presented his credentials to the government of Dahomey, to take effect on August 1, 1960. On October 14, 1960, R. Borden Reams was appointed as the ambassador and presented his credentials on November 26, 1960.
On February 15, 1961, the Embassy in Cotonou, Dahomey, was established with Converse Hettinger as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim. Ambassador Reams remained resident in Abidjan.
In 1961 Robinson McIlvaine was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary with a separate commission solely to Dahomey. He presented his credentials to the government of Dahomey on June 22, 1961.
The Republic of Dahomey changed its name to Republic of Benin in 1975.
Ambassadors +NameTitleAppointedPresented credentialsTerminated missionNotesR. Borden ReamsReams was accredited to Ivory Coast, Niger, Upper Volta, and Dahomey—resident at AbidjanSuperseded by a separate commission to Dahomey July 31, 1961.Reams was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on February 6, 1961. – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryOctober 14, 1960November 26, 1960Superseded, July 31, 1961Robinson McIlvaine – Career FSOJune 22, 1961July 31, 1961March 19, 1964Clinton E. Knox – Career FSOJuly 9, 1964August 18, 1964June 11, 1969Matthew J. Looram, Jr. – Career FSOMay 27, 1969July 21, 1969December 3, 1971Robert AndersonAn earlier nomination of December 2, 1971, was not acted upon by the Senate. – Career FSOFebruary 15, 1972March 25, 1972April 11, 1974James B. Engle – Career FSOJuly 23, 1974November 26, 1974February 15, 1976W. Kenneth ThompsonChargé d’Affaires ad interim -August 1976August 1978John S. Davidson -September 1978May 1980James R. Bullington -June 1980July 1982Charles H. Twining, Jr. -July 1982October 1983George E. Moose – Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryOctober 7, 1983November 4, 1983July 7, 1986Walter Edward Stadtler – Career FSOOctober 16, 1986November 19, 1986December 3, 1989Harriet Winsar Isom – Career FSONovember 21, 1989January 26, 1990November 14, 1992Ruth A. Davis – Career FSOAugust 17, 1992December 24, 1992November 3, 1995John M. Yates – Career FSONovember 3, 1995November 24, 1995October 27, 1998Robert C. Felder – Career FSOOctober 22, 1998November 20, 1998June 10, 2000Pamela E. Bridgewater – Career FSOSeptember 15, 2000November 24, 2000December 10, 2002Wayne E. Neill – Career FSOApril 16, 2003July 4, 2003July 22, 2006Gayleatha B. Brown – Career FSOJuly 5, 2006September 8, 2006August 22, 2009James Knight – Career FSOAugust 7, 2009 November 3, 2009April 28, 2012Michael A. Raynor – Career FSOMay 5, 2012September 13, 2012May 29, 2015Lucy Tamlyn – Career FSOOctober 13, 2015November 8, 2015October 19, 2018Patricia Mahoney – Career FSOJanuary 7, 2019July 4, 2019February 1, 2022Brian W. Shukan – Career FSODecember 18, 2021May 5, 2022February 20, 2026Brinille Eliane Ellis – Career FSOChargé d'affaires ad interim February 20, 2026March 7, 2026Shane Dixon – Career FSOChargé d'affaires ad interim March 7, 2026September 16, 2026Skye Justice – Career FSOChargé d'affaires ad interim September 16, 2026Present
See also Benin – United States relations Foreign relations of Benin Ambassadors of the United States
Notes
External links United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Benin United States Department of State: Benin United States Embassy in Cotonou United States Department of State: Background notes on Benin