Following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 at the end of World War I, the Czechs and Slovaks united to form the new nation of Czechoslovakia. The United States recognized Czechoslovakia and commissioned its first ambassador on April 23, 1919.

Nazi Germany invaded Czechoslovakia in March 1939, establishing a German "protectorate", the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. By this time, Slovakia had already declared independence and had become a puppet state of Germany, the Slovak Republic. German forces occupied Prague on March 15, 1939. The U.S. embassy was closed on March 21, 1939 and the ambassador left his post on April 6, 1939.

During World War II the U.S. maintained diplomatic relations with the Czechoslovak government-in-exile in London. Ambassador Anthony J. Biddle, Jr. established an embassy in London on September 17, 1941 and the embassy was maintained until the end of World War II in Europe. Following the war the embassy in Prague was reopened on May 29, 1945.

In June 1992, the Slovak parliament voted to declare sovereignty and the Czech-Slovak federation dissolved peacefully on January 1, 1993. The United States recognized the Czech Republic and Slovakia as independent nations and moved to establish diplomatic relations. The previous ambassador to Czechoslovakia, Adrian A. Basora, continued as the ambassador to the Czech Republic. Paul Hacker, the incumbent U.S. consul general, served as the first chargé d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Slovakia (January 1 to July 7, 1993), followed by Eleanor Sutter. In November 1993, Theodore E. Russell, former deputy chief of mission in Prague, became the first U.S. ambassador to Slovakia.

Ambassadors Richard Crane – Political appointeeCrane was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on June 26, 1919. Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointed: April 23, 1919 Presented credentials: June 11, 1919 Terminated mission: December 5, 1921 Lewis Einstein – Political appointee Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointed: October 8, 1921 Presented credentials: December 20, 1921 Terminated mission: Left post, February 1, 1930 Abraham C. Ratshesky – Political appointee Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointed: January 25, 1930 Presented credentials: May 2, 1930 Terminated mission: Left post, May 13, 1932 Henry Frank Holthusen – Political appointeeHolthusen was not commissioned; his nomination was not confirmed by the United States Senate. Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointed: Presented credentials: Terminated mission: Francis White – Career FSO Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointed: June 13, 1933 Presented credentials: September 7, 1933 Terminated mission: Relinquished charge on November 30, 1933 J. Butler Wright – Career FSO Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointed: March 9, 1934 Presented credentials: October 25, 1934 Terminated mission: Left post, June 1, 1937 Wilbur J. Carr – Political appointeeGerman forces occupied Prague on March 15, 1939. Ambassador Carr closed the legation in Prague on March 21, 1939, and left post on April 6, 1939. Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointed: July 13, 1937 Presented credentials: September 16, 1937 Terminated mission: April 6, 1939 Note: The embassy in Prague was closed on March 21, 1939, following the occupation of Prague by German forces on March 15. The U.S. opened an embassy in London and maintained diplomatic relations with the government-in-exile of Czechoslovakia during the war. Anthony J. Biddle, Jr. – Political appointeeThe title of the commission was changed to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in 1943 and Biddle was commissioned to the new position while remaining in the office of ambassador.Biddle was also commissioned to the governments-in-exile of Belgium, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Yugoslavia. Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Appointed: September 17, 1941 Presented credentials: October 28, 1941 Terminated mission: June 4, 1943 Note: The title of the commission was changed to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in 1943. This required a new commission for the ambassador. Anthony J. Biddle, Jr. – Political appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: June 4, 1943 Presented credentials: July 12, 1943 Terminated mission: Left London on December 1, 1943 Note: After Germany’s surrender at the close of WWII in Europe, the mission of the embassy in London was terminated. Rudolph E. Schoenfeld was serving as chargé d'affaires ad interim when the embassy was closed. Note: The embassy in Prague was re-established on May 29, 1945, with Alfred W. Klieforth as chargé d'affaires ad interim. Laurence A. Steinhardt – Political appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: December 20, 1944 Presented credentials: July 20, 1945 Terminated mission: Left post, September 19, 1948 Joseph E. Jacobs – Career FSOJacobs was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on March 2, 1949. Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: October 15, 1948 Presented credentials: January 5, 1949 Terminated mission: Left post, October 12, 1949 Ellis O. Briggs – Career FSO Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: September 1, 1949 Presented credentials: November 8, 1949 Terminated mission: Left post, August 27, 1952 George Wadsworth – Career FSOWadsworth was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on May 1, 1953. Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: October 8, 1952 Presented credentials: December 29, 1952 Terminated mission: Left post, October 30, 1953 U. Alexis Johnson – Career FSOJohnson was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on January 26, 1954. Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: November 10, 1953 Presented credentials: December 31, 1953 Terminated mission: Left post, December 29, 1957 John M. Allison – Career FSO Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: March 12, 1958 Presented credentials: April 24, 1958 Terminated mission: Relinquished charge on May 4, 1960 Christian M. Ravndal – Career FSORavnda was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on August 27, 1960. Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: July 21, 1960 Presented credentials: September 16, 1960 Terminated mission: Left post, May 6, 1961 Note: After 1961 the succeeding ambassadors were commissioned to the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. Edward T. Wailes – Career FSO Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: July 14, 1961 Presented credentials: July 28, 1961 Terminated mission: Left post, October 22, 1962 Outerbridge Horsey – Career FSOHorsey was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on March 12, 1963. Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: November 14, 1962 Presented credentials: January 3, 1963 Terminated mission: Relinquished charge on August 1, 1966 Jacob D. Beam – Career FSO Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: May 27, 1966 Presented credentials: August 31, 1966 Terminated mission: Left post, March 5, 1969 Malcolm Toon – Career FSO Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: May 13, 1969 Presented credentials: July 31, 1969 Terminated mission: Left post, October 11, 1971 Albert W. Sherer, Jr. – Career FSO Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: February 15, 1972 Presented credentials: March 15, 1972 Terminated mission: Left post, July 29, 1975 Thomas Ryan Byrne – Career FSO Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: May 1, 1976 Presented credentials: June 23, 1976 Terminated mission: Left post, November 15, 1978 Francis J. Meehan – Career FSO Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: March 23, 1979 Presented credentials: May 30, 1979 Terminated mission: Left post, October 20, 1980 Jack F. Matlock, Jr. – Career FSOAn earlier nomination of September 25, 1980, was not acted upon by the Senate. Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: September 28, 1981 Presented credentials: November 11, 1981 Terminated mission: September 20, 1983 William H. Luers – Career FSO Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: November 14, 1983 Presented credentials: December 29, 1983 Terminated mission: Left post, March 11, 1986 Julian Niemczyk – Political appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: August 18, 1986 Presented credentials: October 2, 1986 Terminated mission: Left post, July 7, 1989 Shirley Temple Black – Political appointee Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: August 3, 1989 Presented credentials: August 23, 1989 Terminated mission: Left post, July 12, 1992 Adrian A. Basora – Career FSOBasora remained in Prague as the ambassador to the Czech Republic when Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Appointed: June 15, 1992 Presented credentials: July 20, 1992 Terminated mission: December 31, 1992 Note: The Czech and Slovak Federal Republic ceased to exist on December 31, 1992. For later ambassadors, see United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic and United States Ambassador to Slovakia.

See also Ambassadors from the United States United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic United States Ambassador to Slovakia

Notes

Sources United States Department of State: Ambassadors to Czechoslovakia United States Department of State: Background notes on the Czech Republic

External links United States Embassy in Prague