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Key Milestones
- The Founding Era
- Diplomacy and Revolution
- The Early Republic
- Securing the Republic
- The Antebellum Period
- The Civil War
- The Age of Imperialism
- Into the Twentieth Century
- The First World War
- The Interwar Period
- World War II
- The Cold War
- Bi-Polar Foreign Policy
- Entangling Alliances
- Détente
- Quest for Peace
- Cold War Denouement
- Toward the Twenty-First Century
Guide to Countries
More Resources
- State Department History
- The Secretaries of State
- The Great Seal
- Diplomatic Relations
- Ambassadors and Chiefs of Mission
- All in the Family
- Origins and Evolution of the Foreign Service
- Women in the Foreign Service
- Distinguished African-Americans
- Diplomatic and Consular Posts, 1781-1997
- Department Personnel, 1781-1997
Frequently Asked Questions
Distinguished African-Americans
Who was the first African-American diplomat?
Ebenezer Don Carlos Basset was the first African-American diplomat. He was Minister Resident and Consul General in Haiti from 1869 to 1877.
Who was the first African-American consul?
On October 29, 1845, Thomas O. Larkin, U.S. Consul in Monterey, California (then part of Mexico) appointed William A. Leidesdorff as Vice Consul at Yerba Buena (now San Francisco). Leidesdorff was born in the Danish West Indies (now the U.S. Virgin Islands) to a Danish planter and an Afro-Caribbean woman in 1810. He was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1834 while living in New Orleans. While living in California, he became a Mexican citizen in 1844 in order to increase his landholdings. His service as Vice Consul lasted until U.S. forces occupied northern California in July 1846. Leidesdorff died in San Francisco on May 18, 1848.
Who was the first African-American to hold the rank of Ambassador?
Edward R. Dudley was appointed Minister to Liberia in 1948 and promoted to Ambassador to Liberia in 1949.
Who was the first African-American to join the Foreign Service?
Clifton R. Wharton joined the Foreign Service in 1925. He became the first African-American Foreign Service Officer to become chief of a diplomatic mission when he was appointed Minister to Romania on February 5, 1958. This appointment made him the first of his race to be chief of a diplomatic mission to a European country. He served in Romania until October 21, 1960. He then served as Ambassador to Norway from April 18, 1961 to September 4, 1964.
Who was the First African-American to Become Secretary of State?
Colin Powell appointed Secretary of State by President George W. Bush in January 2001, was the first African-American Secretary of State. As Secretary of State, he was the highest ranking official of the Department. Prior to Secretary Powell, Clifton R. Wharton, Jr. had been the highest ranking African-American in the Department. He served as Deputy Secretary of State (the number two position in the Deparatment) from January 27 to November 8, 1973, and was the son of pioneering Foreign Service Officer Clifton R. Wharton.
Who was the first African-American woman to become Secretary of State?
Condoleezza Rice became the 66th Secretary of State under President George W. Bush on January 26, 2005, and is the first African-American woman to serve as Secretary of State. As Secretary of State, she is the highest ranking official of the Department.
Who was the first African-American woman to become an Ambassador?
Patricia Roberts Harris was appointed Ambassador to Luxembourg on June 4, 1965, and presented her credentials on September 7. She served until September 22, 1967.
Who was the first African-American to become chief of a State Department bureau?
Barbara M. Watson became Administrator of the Bureau of Security and Consular Affairs on July 31, 1968, and served until December 31, 1974. She was re-appointed on April 7, 1977. On August 17 of that year, she became Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, and served until September 11, 1980.