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Embassy History
 
American Embassy building photographed in the fall

American Embassy building photographed in the fall

The current American Embassy building in Copenhagen, Denmark, opened on May 27, 1954. It was planned and built under the direction of Ides van der Gracht, Regional Director for the Foreign Buildings Office of the U.S. State Department.

The designs were done by two American architects: Ralph Rapson, of the School of Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and John Van der Muelen, School of Fine & Applied Arts, Department of Architecture, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

The Danish supervising architects for the building were Jørgen Juul Møller, M.A.A., and Erik Herlow, M.A.A., both of Copenhagen.

The Embassy is located in Østerbro, an area of Copenhagen home to many embassies, cultural and historic buildings and even the Danish Royal Family. Click to view a gallery of photos all taken within walking distance from the Embassy.

Summary of U.S. - Danish diplomatic relations

Denmark and the United States have never experienced an interruption in their diplomatic relations since they were first established in 1801. In 1917, Denmark sold the Danish West Indies in the Caribbean Sea to the United States; the islands are now known as the U.S. Virgin Islands. In 1949, Denmark became one of the charter members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The current U.S. Ambassador to Denmark is Laurie S. Fulton.

Recognition

Danish Recognition of the United States, 1792.

Denmark recognized the United States when the U.S. consul at Copenhagen, Hans Saabye, received an exequatar from the Danish government on or about June 9, 1792.

Consular Presence

Establishment of Consular Relations, 1792.

Consular relations were established on or about June 9, 1792, when the U.S. consul at Copenhagen, Hans Saabye, received an exequatar from the Danish government.

Diplomatic Relations

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, 1801.

Diplomatic relations were established on October 12, 1801, when the Danish Minister Resident to the United States presented his credentials to the U.S. government.

Legation Established at Copenhagen, 1827.

The U.S. Legation at Copenhagen was established on September 20, 1827, when Chargé d'Affaires Henry Wheaton presented his credentials to the Danish government.

Legation Closed, 1941.

The U.S. Legation at Copenhagen was closed on December 20, 1941, following the outbreak of war between the United States and Germany. German forces had occupied the city on April 9, 1940 and U.S. Minister Ray Atherton left Copenhagen on June 5, 1940. Atherton subsequently took up residence in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada as U.S. Minister to Denmark’s government, which remained in Danish hands until German authorities seized complete control in August 1943.

Legation at Copenhagen Reopened, 1945.

On June 16, 1945, the U.S. Legation at Copenhagen was reopened following Denmark’s liberation from German occupation during World War II.

Legation Raised to Embassy, 1947.

The Legation at Copenhagen was raised to an Embassy on March 18, 1947, when Ambassador Josiah Marvel, Jr. presented his of credentials to the Danish government.

Former Chiefs of Mission to the Kingdom of Denmark

 

Name: James P. Cain
State of Residency: North Carolina
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: June 30, 2005
Presentation of Credentials: September 9, 2005
Termination of Mission: Left post January 24, 2009

 

Name: Stuart A. Bernstein
State of Residency: Washington, DC
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Aug 3, 2001
Presentation of Credentials: Sept 3, 2001
Termination of Mission: Left post Jan 16, 2005

Ambassador Bernstein authored a small book about Rydhave. Download as PDF

Name: Richard Nelson Swett
State of Residency:  New Hampshire
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Jun 29, 1998
Presentation of Credentials: Sep 8, 1998
Termination of Mission: Left post Jul 6, 2001

 
   

Name: Edward Elliott Elson
State of Residency: Georgia
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Nov 22, 1993
Presentation of Credentials: Jan 18, 1994
Termination of Mission: Left post Jun 25, 1998

Name: Richard B. Stone
State of Residency: District of Columbia
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Nov 21, 1991
Presentation of Credentials: Feb 10, 1992
Termination of Mission: Left post, Oct 14, 1993

   

Name: Keith Lapham Brown
State of Residency: Colorado
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Nov 22, 1988 /23/
Presentation of Credentials: Jan 8, 1989
Termination of Mission: Left post, Jan 16, 1992
Note: Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Aug 3, 1989.

Name: Terence A. Todman
State of Residency: Virgin Islands
Foreign Service officer
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Oct 3, 1983
Presentation of Credentials: Nov 17, 1983
Termination of Mission: Left post, Jan 8, 1989

   

Name: John Langeloth Loeb, Jr.
State of Residency: New York
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Jul 30, 1981
Presentation of Credentials: Oct 13, 1981
Termination of Mission: Left post, Sep 17, 1983

Name: Warren Demian Manshel
State of Residency: New York
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Jun 22, 1978
Presentation of Credentials: Jul 31, 1978
Termination of Mission: Left post, Mar 6, 1981

   

Name: John Gunther Dean
State of Residency: New York
Foreign Service officer
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Oct 23, 1975
Presentation of Credentials: Nov 6, 1975
Termination of Mission: Left post, Jul 18, 1978

Name: Philip K. Crowe
State of Residency: Maryland
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Jul 16, 1973
Presentation of Credentials: Sep 13, 1973
Termination of Mission: Left post, Sep 27, 1975

   

Name: Fred J. Russell
State of Residency: California
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Nov 5, 1971
Presentation of Credentials: Dec 9, 1971
Termination of Mission: Left post, Nov 4, 1972

Name: Guilford Dudley, Jr.
State of Residency: Tenn.
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: May 13, 1969
Presentation of Credentials: Jun 18, 1969
Termination of Mission: Left post, Nov 2, 1971

   

Name: Angier Biddle Duke
State of Residency: New York
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Sep 26, 1968
Presentation of Credentials: Oct 3, 1968
Termination of Mission: Left post, May 1, 1969

Name: Katharine Elkus White
State of Residency: New Jersey
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Apr 8, 1964
Presentation of Credentials: Jun 2, 1964
Termination of Mission: Left post, Sep 9, 1968

   

Name: William McCormick Blair, Jr.
State of Residency: Illinois
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Mar 29, 1961
Presentation of Credentials: May 9, 1961
Termination of Mission: Left post, May 17, 1964

Name: Val Peterson
State of Residency: Nebraska
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Jun 26, 1957
Presentation of Credentials: Aug 22, 1957
Termination of Mission: Left post, Feb 21, 1961

   

Name: Robert D. Coe
State of Residency: Wyoming
Foreign Service officer
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Jul 29, 1953
Presentation of Credentials: Sep 25, 1953
Termination of Mission: Relinquished charge, Jun 1, 1957

Name: Eugenie Anderson
State of Residency: Minnesota
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Oct 20, 1949
Presentation of Credentials: Dec 22, 1949
Termination of Mission: Left post, Jan 19, 1953

   

Name: Josiah Marvel, Jr.
State of Residency: Delaware
Non-career appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Feb 27, 1947
Presentation of Credentials: Mar 18, 1947
Termination of Mission: Left post, Mar 4, 1949

Name: Josiah Marvel, Jr.
State of Residency: Delaware
Non-career appointee
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Mar 13, 1946
Presentation of Credentials: Apr 23, 1946
Termination of Mission: Promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

   

Name: Monnett B. Davis
State of Residency: Colorado
Foreign Service officer
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Jun 8, 1945
Presentation of Credentials: Jun 21, 1945
Termination of Mission: Left post, Jan 10, 1946

Name: Ray Atherton
State of Residency: Illinois
Foreign Service officer
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Aug 7, 1939
Presentation of Credentials: [Sep 8, 1939]
Termination of Mission: German forces occupied Copenhagen, Apr 9, 1940; Atherton left post, Jun 5, 1940
Note: Formally received on Sep 8, 1939. Atherton was still holding office as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Denmark when he was recommissioned as such on Jul 8, 1943, in connection with additional appointments as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Canada and Luxembourg, resident at Ottawa. R. Borden Reams was serving as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim when the Legation in Copenhagen was closed, Dec 20, 1941.

Note: The mission at Copenhagen was reopened as a Legation Jun 16, 1945, with Minister Davis in charge pending presentation of his letter of credence.

   

Name: Alvin Mansfield Owsley
State of Residency: Texas
Non-career appointee
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointment: May 28, 1937
Presentation of Credentials: Jul 16, 1937
Termination of Mission: Left post, May 15, 1939

Name: Ruth Bryan Owen
State of Residency: Florida
Non-career appointee
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Apr 13, 1933
Presentation of Credentials: May 29, 1933
Termination of Mission: Left post, Jun 27, 1936
Note: A commission of the same date as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Denmark and Iceland was canceled.

   

Name: Frederick W. B. Coleman
State of Residency: Minnesota
Non-career appointee
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Sep 23, 1931
Presentation of Credentials: Feb 10, 1932
Termination of Mission: Appointment terminated, May 1, 1933
Note: Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Dec 17, 1931.

Name: Ralph H. Booth
State of Residency: Michigan
Non-career appointee
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Jan 22, 1930
Presentation of Credentials: Jun 13, 1930
Termination of Mission: Relinquished charge, May 11, 1931

   

Name: H. Percival Dodge
State of Residency: Massachusetts
Foreign Service officer
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Feb 23, 1926
Presentation of Credentials: Aug 24, 1926
Termination of Mission: Left post, Mar 1, 1930

Name: John Dyneley Prince
State of Residency: New Jersey
Non-career appointee
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Sep 24, 1921
Presentation of Credentials: Nov 23, 1921
Termination of Mission: Presented recall, Mar 30, 1926
   

Name: Joseph C. Grew
State of Residency: Massachusetts
Foreign Service officer
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Apr 7, 1920
Presentation of Credentials: Jun 9, 1920
Termination of Mission: Left post, Oct 14, 1921

Name: Norman Hapgood
State of Residency: New York
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Apr 16, 1919
Presentation of Credentials: Jun 17, 1919
Termination of Mission: Left post, Dec 9, 1919
Note: Commissioned during a recess of the Senate.
   

Name: Maurice Francis Egan
State of Residency: District of Columbia
Title: Non-career appointee
Appointment: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Presentation of Credentials: Jun 10, 1907
Termination of Mission: Sep 6, 1907 Left post, Dec 16, 1917
Note: Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Dec 12, 1907.

Name: Thomas J. O'Brien
State of Residency: Michigan
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Mar 8, 1905
Presentation of Credentials: May 27, 1905
Termination of Mission: Left post, Jun 5, 1907

   

Name: Laurits S. Swenson
State of Residency: Minnesota
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Oct 4, 1897
Presentation of Credentials: Dec 11, 1897
Termination of Mission: Presented recall, May 27, 1905
Note: Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Dec 18, 1897.

Name: John E. Risley
State of Residency: New York
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Mar 27, 1893
Presentation of Credentials: Jul 14, 1893
Termination of Mission: Presented recall, Dec 11, 1897

   

Name: Clark E. Carr
State of Residency: Illinois
Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointment: Jul 30, 1890
Presentation of Credentials: Sep 22, 1890
Termination of Mission: Presented recall, Jul 14, 1893

Name: Clark E. Carr
State of Residency: Illinois
Title: Minister Resident/Consul General
Appointment: May 16, 1889
Presentation of Credentials: Aug 28, 1889
Termination of Mission: Promoted to Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Note: Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Jan 9, 1890.

   

Name: John A. Enander
State of Residency: Illinois
Title: Minister Resident/Consul General
Appointment: Mar 13, 1889
Note: Took oath of office, but did not proceed to post.

Name: Rasmus B. Anderson
State of Residency: Wisconson
Title: Minister Resident/Consul General
Appointment: Apr 2, 1885
Presentation of Credentials: Jun 1, 1885
Termination of Mission: Presented recall, Aug 28, 1889

   

Name: Wickham Hoffman
State of Residency: New York
Title: Minister Resident/Consul General
Appointment: Feb 27, 1883
Presentation of Credentials: May 4, 1883
Termination of Mission: Presented recall, Jun 1, 1885

Name: J.P. Wickersham
State of Residency: Pennsylvania
Title: Minister Resident/Consul General
Appointment: Jul 13, 1882
Presentation of Credentials: Aug 21, 1882
Termination of Mission: Notified the Government of Denmark from Paris, Sep 8, 1882.

   

Name: J. P. Wickersham
State of Residency: Pennsylvania
Title: Charge d'Affaires
Appointment: May 1, 1882
Presentation of Credentials: Jun 13, 1882
Termination of Mission: Promoted to Minister Resident/Consul General

Name: Charles Payson
State of Residency: Massachusetts
Title: Chargé d'Affaires
Appointment: Jun 30, 1881
Presentation of Credentials: Aug 12, 1881
Termination of Mission: Left post, Feb 23, 1882
Note: Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Oct 29, 1881.

   

Name: Michael J. Cramer
State of Residency: Kentucky
Title: Chargé d'Affaires
Appointment: Aug 15, 1876
Presentation of Credentials: Oct 2, 1876
Termination of Mission: Presented recall, Aug 12, 1881

Name: Michael J. Cramer
State of Residency: Kentucky
Title: Minister Resident
Appointment: Sep 9, 1870
Presentation of Credentials: Nov 7, 1870
Termination of Mission: Presented recall, Oct 2, 1876
Note: Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Feb 4, 1871.

   

Name: C. C. Andrews
State of Residency: Minnesota
Title: Minister Resident
Appointment: Apr 16, 1869
Note: Took oath of office, but did not proceed to post.

Name: George H. Yeaman
State of Residency: Kentucky
Title: Minister Resident
Appointment: Aug 25, 1865
Presentation of Credentials: Nov 20, 1865
Termination of Mission: Presented recall, Nov 7, 1870
Note: Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Jan 22, 1866.

   

Name: Samuel J. Kirkwood
State of Residency: Iowa
Title: Minister Resident
Appointment: Mar 11, 1863
Note: Declined appointment.

Name: Bradford R. Wood
State of Residency: New York
Title: Minister Resident
Appointment: Mar 22, 1861
Presentation of Credentials: Aug 18, 1861
Termination of Mission: Presented recall on Nov 15, 1865

   

Name: James M. Buchanan
State of Residency: Maryland
Title: Minister Resident
Appointment: May 11, 1858
Presentation of Credentials:
Aug 10, 1858
Termination of Mission:
Presented recall on May 10, 1861

Name: Henry Bedinger
State of Residency: Virginia
Title: Minister Resident
Appointment: Jun 29, 1854
Presentation of Credentials: Sep 23, 1854
Termination of Mission: Presented recall on Aug 10, 1858

   

Name: Henry Bedinger
State of Residency: Virginia
Title: Chargé d'Affaires
Appointment: May 24, 1853
Presentation of Credentials:
Oct 13, 1853
Termination of Mission:
Promoted to Minister Resident
Note: Nominated on Feb 25, 1856,
to be Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary;
nomination withdrawn before
the Senate acted upon it.
Commissioned during a recess
of the Senate;
recommissioned after confirmation
on Feb 8, 1854.

Name: Miller Grieve
State of Residency: Georgia
Title: Chargé d'Affaires
Appointment: Aug 30, 1852
Presentation of Credentials: Dec 15, 1852
Termination of Mission: Left post on or after Jun 23, 1853

   

Name: Walter Forward
State of Residency: Pennsylvania
Title: Chargé d'Affaires
Appointment: Nov 8, 1849
Presentation of Credentials:
Jun 15, 1850
Termination of Mission:
Recalled on Sep 10, 1851
Note: Commissioned during a recess of the Senate;
recommissioned after
confirmation on Feb 19, 1850.
No record has been found of
presentation of letter of
recall or departure from post.

Name: Robert P. Flenniken
State of Residency: Pennsylvania
Title: Chargé d'Affaires
Appointment: Jan 11, 1847
Presentation of Credentials: Jun 12, 1847
Termination of Mission: Presented recall about Sep 15, 1849

   

Name: William W. Irwin
State of Residency: Pennsylvania
Title: Chargé d'Affaires
Appointment: Mar 3, 1843
Presentation of Credentials: Jun 19, 1843
Termination of Mission: Presented recall on Jun 12, 1847

Name: Isaac Rand Jackson
Title: Chargé d'Affaires
Appointment: May 20, 1841
Presentation of Credentials: Oct 12, 1841
Termination of Mission: Died at post, Jul 27, 1842
Note: Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; recommissioned after confirmation on Jun 29, 1841.

   

Name: Jonathan F. Woodside
State of Residency: Ohio
Title: Chargé d'Affaires
Appointment: Mar 3, 1835
Presentation of Credentials: Sep 1, 1835
Termination of Mission:
Paid farewell calls on Jun 29, 1841

Name: Henry Wheaton
State of Residency: New York
Title: Chargé d'Affaires
Appointment: Mar 3, 1827
Presentation of Credentials: Sep 20, 1827
Termination of Mission: Presented recall on or shortly before May 29, 1835

Diplomatic History