Diplomatic Relations

Who was the first U.S. Diplomat?

Benjamin Franklin was the first U.S. diplomat. He was appointed on September 26, 1776 as part of a commission charged with gaining French support for American independence. He was appointed Minister to France on September 14, 1778 and presented his credentials on March 23, 1779, becoming the first American diplomat to be received by a foreign government. Franklin was one of three Commissioners who negotiated the peace treaty with Great Britain, and continued to serve in France until May 17, 1785. He was also appointed Minister to Sweden in 1782 in order to negotiate a commercial treaty with that country. He signed the treaty in Paris on April 3, 1783 and did not go to Stockholm.

Who was the first U.S. Consul?

William Palfrey of Massachusetts was the first U.S. consul. Prior to his appointment as Consul to France on November 4, 1780, he had been a lieutenant colonel and Paymaster-General of the Continental Army. He was lost at sea on his way to his post. His name is the first on the memorial plaque in the lobby of the Department of State that honors U.S. diplomats who lost their lives under heroic or tragic circumstances.

When was the first U.S. treaty signed?

The first U.S. treaty to be signed was a Treaty of Amity and Commerce with France that was signed in Paris on February 6, 1778.

What was the first U.S. treaty with a non-European nation?

The first U.S. treaty with a non-European nation was a Treaty of Friendship and Amity that was signed with Morocco on June 23, 1786. Thomas Barclay, the U.S. Consul General in Paris, negotiated it. It was valid for fifty years and was renewed in 1837.

What was the first U.S. treaty to be ratified under the Constitution?

A consular convention with France was signed at Versailles on November 14, 1788. President George Washington submitted to the Senate on June 11, 1789, the Senate approved it on July 29, and it entered into effect on January 6, 1790.

When and where was the first U.S. consular post established?

The first U.S. consular post was established in Bordeaux, France in March 1778. It was closed in 1996.

What is the oldest diplomatic property owned by the United States?

The oldest diplomatic property owned by the United States is the U.S. Legation building in Tangier. The Sultan of Morocco made a gift of the building in 1821. It served as the U.S. Consulate and Legation until 1956. It is currently preserved as a museum and study center.