United States Embassy (Lebanon)

<p>Organization Name:</p>
<p>Department of State. U.S. Embassy, Lebanon. 8/27/1952-</p>
<p>Variant Name(s):</p>
<p>Embassy Beirut</p>
<p>Program Area:</p>
<p>Consular services</p>
<p>Foreign relations</p>
<p>Foreign service posts</p>
<p>Jurisdiction(s):</p>
<p>Lebanon</p>
<p>Beirut (Lebanon)</p>
<p>Administrative History Note:</p>
<p>The United States opened diplomatic relations with Lebanon in 1942 and opened its Legation in Beirut on November 19, 1942, when George Wadsworth presented his credentials as Diplomatic Agent and Consul General. In 1944 Wadsworth was promoted to Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary and he presented his new credentials on November 16, 1944. He was also accredited to Syria.</p>

<p>Wadsworth was succeeded as Envoy by Lowell C. Pinkerton, March 6, 1947, and Harold B. Minor, October 18, 1951. The Legation was raised to Embassy status on August 27, 1952, and Minor was promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. He presented his new credentials on October 15, 1952.</p>

<p>Ambassador Minor was succeeded by Raymond A. Hare, September 29, 1953; Donald R. Heath, March 9, 1955; Robert McClintock, January 15, 1958; Armin H. Meyer, January 12, 1952; Dwight J. Porter, June 22, 1965; William B. Buffum, October 13, 1970; and G. McMurtrie Godley, March 15, 1974.</p>

<p>Francis E. Meloy, Jr., was appointed Ambassador on May 1, 1976, and proceeded to his post. On June 16, 1976, Meloy and Economic Counselor Robert O. Waring were kidnapped in Beirut while on their way to meet with President-elect Sarkis. Meloy, Waring, and their Lebanese chauffeur were found dead near a beach several hours later. No demands were made and the assassins were never identified. Richard B. Parker was appointed to succeed him and he presented his credentials as Ambassador on February 15, 1977. He was succeeded by John Gunther Dean, October 10, 1978; Robert Sherwood Dillon, June 26, 1981; Reginald Bartholomew, October 27, 1983; and John Hubert Kelly, August 27, 1986.</p>

<p>John Thomas McCarthy was appointed Ambassador on August 12, 1988. He arrived at Beirut on September 24, 1988, but did not immediately present his credentials. After the withdrawal of all U.S. personnel from Beirut on September 6, 1989, McCarthy resided in Washington, D.C. He visited Lebanon November 18-19, 1989, when he presented his credentials to President Rene Moawad.</p>

<p>The next Ambassador, Ryan Clark Crocker, returned to Beirut in November 1990, and presented his credentials on November 29. The Embassy reopened in March 1991. Ambassador Crocker was succeeded by Mark Gregory Hambley, December 23, 1993; he departed Beirut on September 14, 1994. Vincent Martin Battle served as Charge d'Affaires ad interim from September through October 1994, followed by Ronald L. Schlicher, October 1994 - February 1996.</p>

<p>Richard Henry Jones presented his credentials as Ambassador on February 2, 1996. He was succeeded by David Michael Satterfield, September 23, 1998; and Vincent Martin Battle, September 12, 2001.</p>