Ambassadors of Astoria

 

Flag of ambassadors of the Republic of Astoria

Ambassadors of Astoria are civil servants nominated by the president to serve as diplomatic representatives of Astoria to foreign nations, supranational unions, trade blocs, and other international organizations. Ambassadors-at-large may also be appointed to represent Astoria on critical issues, but they cannot supplant or substitute regular ambassadors in their appointed duties. Under Article III, Section V of the Constitution of Astoria, ambassadors must be confirmed by the Senate.

As of 2024, 190 ambassadors and ambassadors-at-large serve under the jurisdiction of the Department of Foreign Affairs and report directly to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Ambassadors do not serve a fixed term and leave office only upon executive dismissal, resignation, retirement, or death. They are appointed either from a pool of career officers of the Foreign Service, the civil service of the Department of Foreign Affairs, or external non-civil service political appointees.

Current ambassadors

Host country	Position	Ambassador	Portrait	Appointment type Appointment date	Embassy location	Position established	Nominator
Sierra	Ambassador to Sierra	Francis Alfrey		Civil Service August 21, 2021	Porciúncula	January 1, 1870	Brendan Shepard
Brazoria	Ambassador to Brazoria	Rachel Allen		Civil Service July 9, 2023	Grand Llano	January 1, 1870	Brendan Shepard
Superior	Ambassador to Superior	William Greenwell		Political September 14, 2022	Saint Anthony	January 1, 1870	Brendan Shepard
United Commonwealth	Ambassador to the United Commonwealth	Carter Kneene		Political February 12, 2019	Chicago	May 12, 1971	Brendan Shepard
Manchuria	Ambassador to Manchuria	Eugene Bushnell		Civil Service March 11, 2018	Mukden	July 24, 1952	Frank Albertini
United People's Committees	Ambassador to the United People's Committees	Charlotte Hill		Political January 9, 2019	Bogotá	August 11, 1973	Brendan Shepard
Waynakhia	Ambassador to Waynakhia	Randolph Richter		Political November 1, 2023	Solzha-Gala	August 11, 1977	Brendan Shepard
Alaska	Ambassador to Alaska	Marcus O'Neil		Civil Service September 28, 2017	Juneau	July 8, 1950	Frank Albertini
Central America	Ambassador to Central America	Martin Hayes		Political April 24, 2024	Sonsonate	September 28, 1897	Brendan Shepard
Patagonia	Ambassador to Patagonia	Esther Balch		Civil Service August 23, 2021	Magallanes	August 21, 1985	Brendan Shepard
São Leopoldo	Ambassador to São Leopoldo	Calvin Green		Political September 12, 2023	São Pedro	July 8, 1901	Brendan Shepard

Ambassadors to international or supernational organizations

Host country	Position	Ambassador	Portrait	Appointment type Appointment date	Embassy location	Position established	Nominator
Conference of American States	Ambassador to the Conference of American States	Margaret Cannon		Civil Service December 14, 2016	Seattle	January 7, 1977	Frank Albertini
League of Nations	Ambassador to the League of Nations	Absalom Wright		Civil Service January 14, 2019	Geneva	April 18, 1939	Brendan Shepard

First ambassadors

Main article: Rhododendron Dynasty

First appointed ambassadors of Astoria to the nations of Sierra, Brazoria, Superior, Acadiana, Northeast Union, Canada, Tournesol, and the United Commonwealth.

President Nathaniel Cannon selected candidates for nomination based on recommendations from Cornelius O'Neil, who had served as Cannon's emissary to Sierra during the Eugene War. O'Neil played a crucial role in drafting the Statement for Pacific Cooperation, the first display of Astorian diplomacy. Although O'Neil was never formally recognized as an ambassador by the Sierran court during the war, he is considered the progenitor of all Astorian diplomats, emissaries, and ambassadors. Cannon appointed O'Neil as the first Secretary of Foreign Affairs on January 1, 1870, and had earlier entrusted him, between 1869 and 1870, with assembling a group of civil servants to establish the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The first officially nominated and confirmed ambassadors of Astoria were appointed on January 1, 1870, during a special session held between the Senate of the 1st National Assembly of Astoria and Cannon. Eight individuals were nominated and appointed simultaneously as the first ambassadors: Paul Balch as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sierra, Reuben Lane as Ambassador to Brazoria, David Morrison as Ambassador to Superior, Abigail Sellwood as Ambassador to Acadiana, Samuel Skinner as Ambassador to the Northeast Union, Elkanah Helman as Ambassador to Canada, Albert Wilson as Ambassador to Tournesol, and Thomas Wyeth as Ambassador to the United Commonwealth.

Apostolic University historian Shao Jiahao described the first class of Astorian ambassadors in 1989 as "the seeds of the Rhododendron Dynasty," a term referring to the interconnected political dynasties of Astoria that influence the Foreign Service and wield political power throughout Astoria's government.

Those appointed as the first Astorian ambassadors were young and closely related to those who had served in the revolutionary army or were influential financiers of Cannon. Two future presidents of Astoria were directly raised by the first appointed ambassadors; Eugene Wyeth by Thomas Wyeth (elected 1894) and Anthony Morrison (elected 1910) by David Morrison. Martin Barber was the grandson of Reuben Lane, and Samuel Faulkner was the nephew of Abigail Sellwood. Five ambassadors to North American nations, including Rachel Allen, Francis Alfrey and Eugene Bushnell are all descendants of the first Astorian ambassadors, leading to some modern political commentators to claim it as proof the Rhododendron Dynasty continues.

Other former and notable ambassadors

Main article: Former ambassadors of Astoria

Numerous Astorian ambassadors have played influential roles in shaping the nation's foreign policy on the international stage during tense and violent periods of modern history. They have also served as brokers of peace, negotiators of trade, and facilitators of cultural exchanges.

Notable ambassadors of the 19th century

Main articles: Robert Spencer and Ambassador of Astoria to Deseret

Robert Spencer, the first and only Ambassador to Deseret, was appointed by Medorem Waldo and served from 1883 to 1884. Historians consider him a central figure in Astoria's first diplomatic scandal, which partly led to the outbreak of the Deseret War. Since 1867, Astoria's government had exhibited prejudice, animosity, and hostility towards Mormons. These attitudes changed significantly with the election of the Whigs in 1882. Waldo's Whigs depended on Mormon political support in Pocatello to maintain control of the state legislature and the governor's seat. Following his near victory in the presidential election, Waldo yielded to pressure from Mormon voters to recognize Deseret.

The newly appointed ambassador entered into a romantic relationship with Michelle Southworth shortly after his arrival in Salt Lake City. Sierran spies in Deseret discovered the adulterous relationship and blackmailed the ambassador to sour diplomatic relations between Astoria and Deseret. When Spencer refused to act on behalf of the Sierran government, several stolen love letters were sent to his wife. Spencer publicly announced the clandestine intentions of Sierra in the Salt Lake Tribune, declared his conversion to Mormonism, and his engagement to Michelle Southworth. Sierra temporarily ended diplomatic ties with Astoria, dismissing ambassador David Holloway. Tensions between Sierra and Deseret escalated, leading to Sierra's invasion of Deseret. Diplomatic relations between Astoria and Sierra did not recover until the election of Absalom Burnett and the return of the dynastic Rhododendrons in 1890.

Notable ambassadors of the 20th century

Main article: Ambassador of Astoria to the United Commonwealth

Oliver Lane, the eighth Ambassador to the United Commonwealth, was appointed by Anthony Morrison and served from 1911 to 1921. He was instrumental in organizing the efforts of the Allied powers to intervene on behalf of the Federalists during the Continental Revolutionary War. Lane represented Astoria as a signatory to the Treaty of Bernheim, which ended the Allied powers' involvement in the United Commonwealth. He resigned as ambassador in 1921 after signing the treaty and was later appointed by Ernest Anderson as Foreign Secretary. Lane was the second son of Reuben Lane, the first Ambassador to Brazoria.

See also

• Foreign relations of Astoria
• List of diplomatic missions of Astoria