Austrian Empire Legation (United States)

<p>Summary</p>
<p>Note: This entry is for the former state, the Austrian Empire. Please click here for information on the modern Republic of Austria.</p>

<p>Austria was the German-speaking heartland of the Holy Roman Empire (until 1806), the Austrian Empire (until 1867), and the Austro-Hungarian Empire (until 1918). Relations between the United States and the Austrian Empire (and subsequently, the Austro-Hungarian Empire) were friendly. An exception was the period 1849-50 in the aftermath of Austrian suppression of the 1848 Hungarian revolt. At the time there was widespread sympathy for Hungarian national aspirations and Hungarian exiles were warmly received by the United States. This changed during World War I. After the United States declared war on Germany, Austria-Hungary severed diplomatic relations with the United States on April 8, 1917. The United States did not declare war on Austria-Hungary until December 7, 1917.</p>

<p>Diplomatic Relations</p>
<p>Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and the American Legation in Vienna, 1838.</p>
<p>Henry A. Muhlenberg was appointed as the first U.S. Minister to Austria on February 8, 1838. He presented his credentials on November 7, 1838.</p>

<p>Establishment of the Austrian Legation in Washington, 1838.</p>
<p>The Austrian Empire’s first Minister to the United States, Baron de Mareschal, presented his credentials October 13, 1838.</p>

<p>In 1777 Congress appointed William Lee as the first U.S. representative to Vienna. Austria, however, did not receive him, declining to recognize a country that had rebelled against a monarchy. The Hofkanzlei’s files referred to American officials as “rebels” and “insurgents.” The Empire nonetheless conducted trade in arms with the colonies during the American Revolution, and pursued commercial interests in cotton and tobacco markets. This ambiguity marked the Empire’s position toward the U.S. until the late 19th century.</p>

<p>Austria did, however, recognize the United States in 1797 by accepting Conrad Frederick Wagner as U.S. Consul at Trieste. In 1820 an Austrian Consulate was established in New York under the direction of Alois (Lewis) Baron von Lederer. On December 20, 1825, Secretary of State Henry Clay announced that the United States was ready to conclude a commerce and navigation convention with the Austrian Empire. In 1828 Emperor Francis I instructed Baron von Lederer to negotiate a treaty, leading to formal discussions on trade. The Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between the United States and Austria was signed in Washington, D.C. on August 27, 1829, and entered into force February 10, 1831, after the exchange of ratifications. It remained in force until the U.S. entered World War I.</p>

<p>Official diplomatic relations, however, were established with the appointment of Henry A. Muhlenberg as first American Minister to Vienna on February 8, 1838. He presented his credentials November 7, 1838. The Austrian Empire’s first Minister to the United States, Wenzel Philipp Baron de Mareschal, established an Austrian Legation in Washington, D.C. presenting his credentials October 13, 1838.</p>

<p>I. AUSTRIAN EMPIRE/AUSTRIA-HUNGARY</p>
<p>1838</p>
<p>Wenzel Freiherr von Mareschall (Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary)</p>

<p>1841</p>
<p>Johann Hülsemann (Chargé d'Affaires)</p>

<p>1852</p>
<p>August Belmont (Chargé d'Affaires)</p>

<p>1853</p>
<p>Johann Freiherr von Hülsemann (Minister resident)</p>

<p>1863</p>
<p>Carl Loosey (Chargé d'Affaires)</p>

<p>1863</p>
<p>Nikolaus Graf Giorgi (Minister resident)</p>

<p>1864</p>
<p>Carl Loosey (Chargé d'Affaires)</p>

<p>1865</p>
<p>Ferdinand Freiherr von Wydenbruck (Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary)</p>

<p>1867</p>
<p>Karl Freiherr von und zu Franckenstein (Chargé d'Affaires)</p>

<p>1868</p>
<p>Karl Freiherr von Lederer (Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary)</p>

<p>1874</p>
<p>Wilhelm Freiherr von Schwarz-Senborn (Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary)</p>

<p>1875</p>
<p>Ernst Schmit von Tavera (Chargé d'Affaires)</p>

<p>1875</p>
<p>Ladislaus Graf Hoyos (Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary)</p>

<p>1878</p>
<p>Ernst Schmit von Tavera (legation councillor)</p>

<p>1878</p>
<p>Ernst Freiherr von Mayr (Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary)</p>

<p>1881</p>
<p>Wilhelm Graf Lippe-Weissenfeld (Chargé d'Affaires)</p>

<p>1881</p>
<p>Ignaz Freiherr von Schaeffer</p>

<p>1887</p>
<p>Ernst Schmit von Tavera (Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary)</p>

<p>1894 </p>
<p>Mr. de Mezey (Counselor of Legation, Not Charge d'Affaires)</p>

<p>1894 </p>
<p>Ladislaus Hengelmuller von Hengervar (Minister, 1902: Ambassador)</p>

<p>1902 </p>
<p>LEGATION RAISED TO EMBASSY</p>

<p>1913</p>
<p>Dr. Constantin Theodor Dumba (Ambassador)</p>

<p>1915</p>
<p>Baron Erich Zwiedinek (Chargé d'Affaires)</p>

<p>1917</p>
<p>EMBASSY CLOSED</p>