List of ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Belgium

The Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Belgium is the United Kingdom's foremost diplomatic representative in Belgium, and in charge of the UK's diplomatic mission in Belgium. The official title is His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium.

Heads of Missions

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)

Envoys Extraordinary to the Sovereign Duchess of Netherlands (1598- 1621)

1600–1601: Thomas Edmondes^[1]
1605–1609: Thomas Edmondes^[1]
1620: Sir Edward Conway

Envoys Extraordinary to the General Governor of the Spanish Netherlands

1665: Sir William Temple, Bt.
1671: Sir Robert Southwell Ambassador^[2]
1689–1692: John Andrew Eckhart Resident^[3]
1692–1696: Robert Wolseley^[3]
1696–1699: Richard Hill Envoy Extraoridinary to all parts of Netherlands^[3]
1699–1701: Mr Marmande Secretary^[3]

Envoys Extraordinary at Brussels

1701–1706: Apparently no representation at Brussels^[3]
1706–1707: George Stepney^[3]
1707–1712: John Lawes in charge 1707–1708; then HM Secretary at Brussels^[3]
1707–1711: Maj.-Gen. William Cadogan (also accredited at The Hague)^[3]

Envoys to the Imperial Court at Brussels

1711–1713: The Earl of Orrery Envoy Extraordinary 1711–1712; Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary 1712–1713.^[3]
1712–1715: John Lawes Acting Minister Plenipotentiary; then Secretary^[3]
1714–1715: Lieut.-Gen. William Cadogan Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary^[3]
1715–1724: William Lethes HM Secretary at Brussels 1715–1717; Resident c.1718–1724^[3]
1722–1745: Robert Daniel in charge of affairs or Agent^[3]
1742–1744: Onslow Burrish Secretary 1742–1744; Resident 1744 (residing mainly at Liege)^[3]
1744–1752: No representation^[3]
1752–1757: Solomon Dayrolles Minister^[3]
1757–1763: Diplomatic Relations broken off due to Seven Years' War^[3]
1763–1765: Sir James Porter FRS^[3]^[4]
1765–1777: William Gordon^[4]
1777–1783: Alleyne Fitzherbert^[4]
1783–1792: George Byng, 4th Viscount Torrington^[4]
- 1789–1792: Francis Wilson Chargé d'Affaires^[5]
1792–1794: Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin^[4]

The Austrian Netherlands were then conquered by France. After the Napoleonic War, they were part of the Netherlands, then briefly known as the United Kingdom of the Netherlands until the Belgian Revolution of 1830.

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary

1830: John, Lord Ponsonby, special mission to Provisional Government^[6]
1831–1835: Robert Adair, special mission^[6]
- 1835–1836: Henry Lytton Bulwer, Chargé d'Affaires^[6]
1836–1845: Sir George Hamilton Seymour^[6]
- 1845–1846: Thomas Waller, Chargé d'Affaires^[6]
1846–1868: Charles Ellis, 6th Baron Howard de Walden
1868–1883: John Savile, 1st Baron Savile^[7]
1883–1884: Sir Edward Baldwin Malet, 4th Baronet^[8]
1884–1892: Hussey Vivian, 3rd Baron Vivian^[9]
1892–1893: Sir Edmond Monson, K.C.M.G.^[10]
1893–1900: Sir Francis Plunkett
1900–1906: Sir Constantine Phipps
1906–1911: Arthur Henry Hardinge
1911–1919: Sir Francis Hyde Villiers

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

1919–1920: Sir Francis Hyde Villiers
1920–1928: Sir George Grahame (and Minister to Luxembourg)
1928–1933: Granville Leveson-Gower, 3rd Earl Granville (and Minister to Luxembourg)
1933–1934: Sir George Clerk (and Minister to Luxembourg)
1934–1937: Sir Esmond Ovey (and Minister to Luxembourg)
1937–1939: Sir Robert Clive (and Minister to Luxembourg)
1939–1944: Sir Lancelot Oliphant
1944–1947: Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen^[11]
1947–1950: Sir George Rendel
1950–1951: Sir John Le Rougetel
1951–1955: Sir Christopher Warner^[12]
1955–1960: Sir George Labouchere
1960–1963: Sir John Nicholls
1963–1969: Sir Roderick Barclay
1969–1974: Sir John Beith
1974–1978: Sir David Muirhead
1979–1981: Sir Peter Wakefield
1982–1985: Sir Edward Jackson
1985–1989: Sir Peter Petrie, 5th Baronet
1989–1992: Robert O'Neill
1992–1996: Sir John Gray
1996–2001: David Colvin
2001–2003: Gavin Hewitt
2003–2007: Richard Kinchen
2007–2010: Rachel Aron
2010–2014: Jonathan Brenton
2014–2019: Alison Rose
2019–present^[update]: Martin Shearman^[13]
From September 2024^[update]: Anne Sherriff^[14]

References

^ ^a ^b J. Palmer, A Biographical History of England (1824), 86.
^ Toby Barnard, ‘Southwell, Sir Robert (1635–1702)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [1], accessed 10 April 2009
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r D. B. Horn, British Diplomatic Representatives 1689–1789 (Camden 3rd Ser. 46, 1932)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e J. Haydn, Book of Dignities (1851), 77–78.
^ S. T. Bindoff, E. F. Malcolm Smith and C. K. Webster, British Diplomatic Representatives 1789–1852 (Camden 3rd Series, 50, 1934).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e J. Haydn, Book of Dignities (1851), 76.
^ "No. 23434". The London Gazette. 23 October 1868. p. 5555.
^ "No. 25268". The London Gazette. 11 September 1883. p. 4449.
^ "No. 25425". The London Gazette. 23 December 1884. p. 5919.
^ "No. 26258". The London Gazette. 16 February 1892. p. 4.
^ "No. 36811". The London Gazette. 24 November 1944. p. 5393.
^ "No. 39406". The London Gazette. 11 December 1951. p. 6464.
^ "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Belgium during Summer 2019". GOV.UK. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
^ "Change of His Majesty's Ambassador to Belgium: Anne Sherriff". GOV.UK. Retrieved 14 April 2024.