This thesis explores a continuous problem facing those who conduct American diplomatic affairs: the appointment of amateurs, with no previous experience in diplomacy, as ambassadors representing the United States abroad. This study contends that the noncareer, nonprofessional appointment is neither necessarily a bad thing nor should it be considered undesirable, given the American system of conducting its foreign affairs. On the contrary this thesis argues that the amateur ambassador can effectively serve to enhance the needs of American foreign policy without having the same professional training.accorded to the career foreign service officer.

This thesis outlines the history of American ambassadorial representation in England through 1868.