American diplomacy is as old as the country itself. In 1776, Benjamin Franklin traveled to Paris to serve as a commissioner on behalf of his newly declared country and solicit the support of the French for the American Revolution.
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Today, a primary function of a United States Ambassador is to act as a representative for the President of the United States and maintain good relations with the country in which they are posted.
Typically ambassadors are either appointed as political favors or they are career diplomats from the Foreign Service.
Here are 25 facts about the ambassadorial world, broken down by numbers.
Foreign Relations
1. The rank of “Ambassador” was first awarded by the United States in 1893. Before this, the highest title was “Minister.”
2. About 7 million visas are granted by U.S. embassies around the world each year.
3. The United States has diplomatic relations with 180 countries.
4. Current United States diplomatic missions: 265.
Presidents As Foreign Ministers
5. The State Department created the Foreign Service in 1924.
6. Six U.S. Presidents have served as Foreign Minister: John Adams (UK, Netherlands), William Henry Harrison (Colombia), James Monroe (France, UK), John Quincy Adams (UK, Netherlands, Russia, Germany), Thomas Jefferson (France), and Martin van Buren (United Kingdom).
7. U.S. Presidents who served as Ambassador to another country: 0
8. Five nations don’t have U.S. ambassadorial exchanges: Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Embassies And Rankings
9. In 1966, Hungary and Bulgaria became the two most recent nations to get full-fledged American embassies.
10. There are currently 27 vacant ambassador posts.
11. There are 10 possible diplomatic ranks at each post as dictated by bilateral diplomacy: Ambassador, Chargé d’affaires, Minister, Minister-Counselor, Counselor, First Secretary, Second Secretary, Third Secretary, Attaché, Assistant Attaché
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