List of ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Spain
The Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Spain is the United Kingdom's foremost diplomatic representative in the Kingdom of Spain, and in charge of the UK's diplomatic mission in Spain. The official title is His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain .
The British ambassador to Spain is also non-resident ambassador to the Principality of Andorra .
In 1822, the Foreign Secretary at that time, George Canning , downgraded the Embassy to a Mission, and the Head of Mission from an Ambassador to an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, to reflect Spain's decreased importance on the world stage. The Mission in Madrid was upgraded to a full Embassy once more on 9 December 1887.[ 2]
List of heads of mission
The following is a partial list of British ambassadors to Spain.
Titles of the heads of mission:
From 1509 to 1683: Ambassador
From 1683 to 1710: Envoy Extraordinary
From 1711 to 1821: Ambassador
From 1822 to 1887: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Since 1887: Ambassador
Appointed/accreditation
Incumbent
Monarch
Envoy to
Left office
1505
John Stile [ 3]
Henry VIII of England
Ferdinand II of Aragon
16 June 1518
3 June 1512
William Knight [ 4]
Henry VIII of England
Ferdinand II of Aragon
1 September 1513
15 July 1517
Sir Thomas Spinelly [ 5]
Henry VIII of England
Charles I of Spain
1522
28 February 1518
John Kite [ 6] John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners [ 7]
Henry VIII of England
Charles I of Spain
1 March 1519
1533
Richard Pate
Henry VIII of England
Charles I of Spain
1537
1537
Sir Thomas Wyatt [ 8]
Henry VIII of England
Charles I of Spain
1539
12 March 1554
John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford Thomas Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Sussex
Mary I of England
Philip II of Spain
20 July 1554
12 January 1560
Anthony Browne, 1st Viscount Montagu
Elizabeth I of England
Philip II of Spain
24 June 1560
24 June 1560
Anthony Browne, 1st Viscount Montagu Sir Thomas Chamberlain [ 9]
Elizabeth I of England
Philip II of Spain
24 June 1562
30 September 1561
Thomas Chaloner
Elizabeth I of England
Philip II of Spain
15 May 1565
5 March 1565
William Phayre
Elizabeth I of England
Philip II of Spain
4 April 1566
12 January 1566
John Man [ 10]
Elizabeth I of England
Philip II of Spain
5 October 1568
18 November 1576
Sir John Smith[ 11] [ 12]
Elizabeth I of England
Philip II of Spain
28 July 1577
December 1577
Thomas Wilkes [ 13]
Elizabeth I of England
Philip II of Spain
February 1578
May 1579
Edward Wotton, 1st Baron Wotton
Elizabeth I of England
Philip II of Spain
January 1583
William Wade
Elizabeth I of England
Philip II of Spain
August 1584
1584
Thomas Wilson
Elizabeth I of England
Philip II of Spain
2 March 1605
Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham
James VI and I
Philip III of Spain
4 July 1577
1605
Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington
James VI and I
Philip III of Spain
1605
Charles Cornwallis [ 14]
James VI and I
Philip III of Spain
1609
1608
John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol
James VI and I
Philip III of Spain
1609
Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington [ 15]
James VI and I
Philip III of Spain
1611
1609
Peter Wyche
James VI and I
Philip IV of Spain
1611
1616
William Cecil, 17th Baron de Ros
James VI and I
Philip III of Spain
1617
John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol [ 16]
James VI and I
Philip IV of Spain
1618
1617
John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol
James VI and I
Philip III of Spain
1618
Walter Aston, 1st Lord Aston of Forfar
James VI and I
Philip III of Spain
1622
Mr. Hole
James VI and I
Philip IV of Spain
1622
Simon Digby (fl. 1620–1640s)
James VI and I
Philip IV of Spain
1640
1622
John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol
James VI and I
Philip IV of Spain
1623
Endymion Porter
James VI and I
Philip IV of Spain
1624
Stephen Gardiner
James VI and I
Philip IV of Spain
1 March 1625
Peter Wyche
Charles I of England
Philip IV of Spain
30 April 1626
11 August 1628
Endymion Porter
Charles I of England
Philip IV of Spain
5 January 1629
1 July 1629
Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington
Charles I of England
Philip IV of Spain
20 April 1631
18 December 1630
Arthur Hopton
Charles I of England
Philip IV of Spain
23 April 1636
13 July 1634
John Taylor
Charles I of England
Philip IV of Spain
24 May 1635
26 December 1634
Walter Aston, 1st Lord Aston of Forfar
Charles I of England
Philip IV of Spain
31 July 1638
April 1638
Sir Richard Fanshawe, 1st Baronet
Charles I of England
Philip IV of Spain
10 June 1638
21 March 1638
Arthur Hopton
Charles I of England
Philip IV of Spain
December 1645
25 January 1650
Anthony Ascham
English Council of State
Philip IV of Spain
27 May 1650
27 May 1650
George Fisher
English Council of State
Philip IV of Spain
26 September 1651
1654
Anglo-Spanish War (1654-1660)
English Council of State
Philip IV of Spain
1660
20 February 1666
Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich
Charles II of England
Charles II of Spain
11 October 1668
26 February 1666
Robert Southwell
Charles II of England
Charles II of Spain
22 June 1666
10 July 1668
Sir John Werden, 1st Baronet
Charles II of England
Charles II of Spain
10 June 1668
10 July 1668
William Godolphin
Charles II of England
Charles II of Spain
10 June 1668
21 November 1671
Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland
Charles II of England
Charles II of Spain
20 May 1672
29 June 1677
Ignatius White
Charles II of England
Charles II of Spain
October 1677
12 June 1679
Sir Henry Goodricke, 2nd Baronet [ 17]
Charles II of England
Charles II of Spain
27 March 1683
10 December 1682
Peter Lefett
Charles II of England
Charles II of Spain
16 November 1685
13 May 1685
Charles Granville, 2nd Earl of Bath
Charles II of England
Charles II of Spain
December 1688
13 May 1685
John Stafford
James II of England
Charles II of Spain
December 1688
May 1689
Viscount Dursley
Mary II of England
Charles II of Spain
August 1689
1689
Alexander Stanhope [ 18]
Mary II of England
Charles II of Spain
1699
1699
Francis Schonenberg[ 19]
William III of England
Charles II of Spain
1702
1702
War of the Spanish Succession
William III of England
Philip V of Spain
1702
1705
Mitford Crowe [ 20]
Anne, Queen of Great Britain
Philip V of Spain
1706
1705
Paul Methuen
Anne, Queen of Great Britain
Philip V of Spain
1706
1706
Charles Mordaunt, 3rd Earl of Peterborough ,
James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope (joint envoys)[ 21] [ 22]
Anne, Queen of Great Britain
Charles III of Hungary
{1707
{1710
1711
John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll [ 23]
Anne, Queen of Great Britain
Charles III of Hungary
1712
1712
Robert Sutton, 2nd Baron Lexinton [ 24]
Anne, Queen of Great Britain
Philip V of Spain
1713
1713
Robert Benson, 1st Baron Bingley [ 25]
Anne, Queen of Great Britain
Philip V of Spain
1714
1714
Paul Methuen
Anne, Queen of Great Britain
Philip V of Spain
1715
1715
George Dodington, 1st Baron Melcombe
George I of Great Britain
Philip V of Spain
1717
1717
John Chetwynd, 2nd Viscount Chetwynd
George I of Great Britain
Philip V of Spain
1718
1718
War of the Quadruple Alliance
George I of Great Britain
Philip V of Spain
1720
1720
Luke Schaub
George I of Great Britain
Philip V of Spain
1720
1720
William Stanhope, 1st Earl of Harrington
George I of Great Britain
Philip V of Spain
1727
1727
Anglo-Spanish War (1727–29)
George I of Great Britain
Philip V of Spain
1729
Benjamin Keene
George II of Great Britain
Philip V of Spain
1739
1739
War of Jenkins' Ear
George II of Great Britain
Philip V of Spain
1748
1748
Sir Benjamin Keene
George II of Great Britain
Ferdinand VI of Spain
1757
1758
George Hervey, 2nd Earl of Bristol
George II of Great Britain
Ferdinand VI of Spain
1761
1761
Anglo-Spanish War (1761)
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles III of Spain
1763
19 February 1763
John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles III of Spain
1763
William Nassau de Zuylestein, 4th Earl of Rochford [ 26]
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles III of Spain
1766
1766
Sir James Gray, 2nd Baronet [ 18] [ 27]
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles III of Spain
1769
1770
George Pitt, 1st Baron Rivers [ 28]
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles III of Spain
1771
1771
James Harris [ 29]
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles III of Spain
1771
Thomas Robinson, 2nd Baron Grantham
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles III of Spain
1779
1779
Anglo-Spanish War (1779-1783)
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles III of Spain
1783
1783
John Crichton-Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles III of Spain
1783
Robert Liston
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles III of Spain
1788
1784
Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl of Chesterfield
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles III of Spain
1785
1788
William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland [ 18] [ 30]
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles IV of Spain
1790
1790
Alleyne FitzHerbert, 1st Baron St Helens
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles IV of Spain
1794
1794
Francis James Jackson
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles IV of Spain
1795
1795
John Crichton-Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles IV of Spain
1796
1796
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles IV of Spain
1802
1802
John Hookham Frere
George III of the United Kingdom
Charles IV of Spain
1804
1808
Charles Stuart
George III of the United Kingdom
Ferdinand VII of Spain
1808
1808
John Hookham Frere
George III of the United Kingdom
Ferdinand VII of Spain
1808
1809
Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley
George III of the United Kingdom
Ferdinand VII of Spain
1809
1810
Henry Wellesley
George III of the United Kingdom
Ferdinand VII of Spain
1821
1822
William à Court, 1st Baron Heytesbury
George IV of the United Kingdom
Ferdinand VII of Spain
1825
Frederick Lamb, 3rd Viscount Melbourne
George IV of the United Kingdom
Ferdinand VII of Spain
5 December 1827
George Bosanquet
George IV of the United Kingdom
Ferdinand VII of Spain
1830
1830
Henry Unwin Addington
George IV of the United Kingdom
Ferdinand VII of Spain
1833
1833
George Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon
William IV of the United Kingdom
Isabella II of Spain
1839
1839
George Jerningham
Queen Victoria
Isabella II of Spain
1840
Sir Arthur Ingram Aston
Queen Victoria
Isabella II of Spain
1843
1843
George Jerningham
Queen Victoria
Isabella II of Spain
1844
Henry Bulwer, 1st Baron Dalling and Bulwer
Queen Victoria
Isabella II of Spain
19 May 1848
19 May 1848
Revolutions of 1848
Queen Victoria
Isabella II of Spain
1850
1850
John Hobart Caradoc, 2nd Baron Howden
Queen Victoria
Isabella II of Spain
1858
Sir Andrew Buchanan, 1st Baronet
Queen Victoria
Isabella II of Spain
1860
John Fiennes Twisleton Crampton
Queen Victoria
Isabella II of Spain
1869
Austen Henry Layard
Queen Victoria
Francisco Serrano, 1st Duke of la Torre
1878
Sir Lionel Sackville-West
Queen Victoria
Alfonso XII of Spain
1881
Robert Morier
Queen Victoria
Alfonso XII of Spain
1884
Francis Clare Ford
Queen Victoria
Alfonso XII of Spain
1887
1887
Francis Clare Ford
Queen Victoria
Alfonso XIII of Spain
1892
1892
Henry Drummond Wolff
Queen Victoria
Alfonso XIII of Spain
1900
1900
Henry Mortimer Durand
Queen Victoria
Alfonso XIII of Spain
1903
1903
Edwin Henry Egerton
Edward VII
Alfonso XIII of Spain
1904
1904
Arthur Nicolson, 1st Baron Carnock
Edward VII
Alfonso XIII of Spain
1905
February 1906
Maurice William Ernest de Bunsen
Edward VII
Alfonso XIII of Spain
1913
1913
Arthur Henry Hardinge
George V
Alfonso XIII of Spain
1919
Esme Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Penrith
George V
Alfonso XIII of Spain
1919
1924
Sir Horace Rumbold, 9th Baronet
George V
Alfonso XIII of Spain
1928
George Dixon Grahame
George V
Alfonso XIII of Spain
1935
Henry Chilton
George V
Niceto Alcalá-Zamora
27 February 1939
Maurice Peterson
George V
Francisco Franco
1940
1940
Samuel Hoare, 1st Viscount Templewood
George VI
Francisco Franco
1945
Sir Victor Mallet
George VI
Francisco Franco
1946
Sir Douglas Howard
George VI
Francisco Franco
1949
10 November 1949
Robert Hankey, 2nd Baron Hankey
George VI
Francisco Franco
1950
1951
Sir John Balfour
George VI
Francisco Franco
1954
1954
Sir William Ivo Mallet
Elizabeth II
Francisco Franco
1960
1960
Sir George Labouchère
Elizabeth II
Francisco Franco
1966
Sir Alan Meredith Williams
Elizabeth II
Francisco Franco
1969
Sir John Russell
Elizabeth II
Francisco Franco
1974
Sir Charles Wiggin
Elizabeth II
Francisco Franco
1977
1977
Sir Antony Acland
Elizabeth II
Juan Carlos I of Spain
1980
Sir Richard Parsons
Elizabeth II
Juan Carlos I of Spain
1984
Lord Nicholas Gordon-Lennox
Elizabeth II
Juan Carlos I of Spain
1989
1989
Sir Robin Fearn
Elizabeth II
Juan Carlos I of Spain
1994
David Brighty
Elizabeth II
Juan Carlos I of Spain
1998
Sir Peter Torry
Elizabeth II
Juan Carlos I of Spain
1998
2003
Sir Stephen Wright
Elizabeth II
Juan Carlos I of Spain
2007
2007
Dame Denise Holt
Elizabeth II
Juan Carlos I of Spain
2009
2009
Giles Paxman
Elizabeth II
Juan Carlos I of Spain
2013
2013
Simon Manley [ 31]
Elizabeth II
Juan Carlos I of Spain
King Felipe VI of Spain
2019
2019
Hugh Elliott [ 32]
Elizabeth II
Charles III
King Felipe VI of Spain
2024
2024
Sir Alex Ellis [ 33] [ 1]
Charles III
King Felipe VI of Spain
[ 34]
References
^ a b "A new British Ambassador, Sir Alex Ellis, arrives in Spain" . GOV.UK . Retrieved 29 December 2024 .
^ Chris Cook and Brendan Keith, British Historical Facts 1830-1900 , Macmillan 1975, page 168
^ Hillgarth, J.N. The Mirror of Spain, 1500-1700: The Formation of a Myth , University of Michigan Press, 2000, page 11
^ "Knight, William (1476-1547)" . Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^ Behrens, Betty The Office of the English Resident Ambassador: Its Evolution as Illustrated by the Career of Sir Thomas Spinelly, 1509-22 , Transactions of the Royal Historical Society , Fourth Series, Vol. 16, (1933), pp.161-195
^ "Kite, John" . Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^ "Bourchier, John (1467-1533)" . Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^ "Wyatt, Thomas (1503?-1542)" . Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^ CHAMBERLAIN, Sir Thomas (c.1504-80) , History of Parliament Online
^ "Man, John" . Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^ "Smith, John (1534?-1607)" . Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^ Froude, James A., History of England from the Fall of Wolsey to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada , John Parker & Son, London, 1870, reprinted Cambridge University Press, 2011, volume XI, pp64-68
^ "Wilkes, Thomas" . Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^ Chris R. Kyle, 'Cornwallis, Sir Charles (c.1555–1629)’, "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography" (Oxford University Press, 2004), [1] , accessed 1 February 2011.
^ Fiona Pogson, 'Cottington, Francis, first Baron Cottington (1579?–1652)’, "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography" (Oxford University Press, 2004),[2] , accessed 1 February 2011.
^ , Sir John 1617 Digby sailed for Spain with his kinsman, Sir John, who was English ambassador at Madrid. They returned together 27 April 1618. DIGBY (George lord) son of John, earl of Bristol, was born during his father's embassy to Madrid in 1612.David L. Smith, 'Digby, John, first earl of Bristol (1580–1653)’, "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography", (Oxford University Press, 2004), [3] , accessed 1 February 2011.
^ J. D. Davies, 'Goodricke, Sir Henry, second baronet (1642–1705)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [4] , accessed 10 April 2009
^ a b c Horn, D.B., British Diplomatic Representatives 1689-1789 (Camden 3rd Ser. 46, 1932)
^ McLachlan, Jean O., Trade and Peace with Old Spain, 1667-1750 , Cambridge University Press, 1940, page 38
^ Davies, J.D. "Crowe, Mitford". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi :10.1093/ref:odnb/6819 . (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ Davenport, Frances G. & Paullin, Charles O.,European Treaties Bearing on the History of the United States and Its Dependencies , Lawbook Exchange, 2012, page 123
^ Hanham, A.A. "Stanhope, James". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi :10.1093/ref:odnb/26248 . (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ "Campbell, John (1678-1743)" . Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^ "Sutton, Robert (1661-1723)" . Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^ "Benson, Robert (1676-1731)" . Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^ The London Gazette, 14 June 1763
^ J. Haydn, Book of Dignities (1851), 83.
^ "Pitt, George" . Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^ The London Gazette, 23 February 1771
^ S. T. Bindoff, E. F. Malcolm Smith and C. K. Webster, British Diplomatic Representatives 1789-1852 (Camden 3rd Series, 50, 1934).
^ Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Spain , Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 19 June 2013
^ Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Spain during summer 2019 , GOV.UK , 15 October 2018
^ "Change of His Majesty's Ambassador to Spain: Alex Ellis" . GOV.UK . Retrieved 14 April 2024 .
^ Gary M. Bell, Handlist of British Diplomatic Representatives , 1509-1688
External links