List of ambassadors of the United Kingdom to China


The British ambassador to China is the United Kingdom's foremost diplomatic representative in the People's Republic of China, and in charge of the UK's diplomatic mission in China. The ambassador's official title is His Brittanic Majesty's Ambassador to the People's Republic of China.
The UK recognized the People's Republic of China in 1950, although the PRC did not agree to the exchange of ambassadors until 1972. Prior to this, the United Kingdom had sent ministers to the Qing Empire and variously ministers and ambassadors to the Republic of China. The Embassy offices have been located in Peking, Nanking, or both. Currently the British Ambassador to China is Peter Wilson, he became ambassador in August 2025.

List of heads of mission

1792–1794: George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney
1815-1817: William Pitt Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst

Envoys extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary

Imperial China (during the [First Opium War])

NameTenure beginTenure endBritish MonarchChinese Emperor
Sir George ElliotFebruary 1840November 1840Queen VictoriaDaoguang Emperor
Sir Charles ElliotNovember 184012 August 1841Queen VictoriaDaoguang Emperor

Ambassadors to the Republic of China

NameTenure beginTenure endBritish MonarchChinese President
Hon. Sir Alexander Cadogan15 June 19355 April 1936George VLin Sen
Sir Robert George Howe5 April 19362 September 1936Edward VIIILin Sen
Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen23 September 193620 December 1937Edward VIIILin Sen
Sir Archibald Clark Kerr1 February 193816 January 1942George VILin Sen
Sir Horace James Seymour16 January 194223 May 1946George VILin Sen
Ralph Stevenson21 June 19461948George VIChiang Kai-shek

Chargés d'affaires to the People's Republic of China

The United Kingdom recognized Communist China in January 1950 and posted a chargé d'affaires in the new capital of Beijing. However, China was unwilling to exchange ambassadors until the British consulate in Taipei was withdrawn in 1972.
NameTenure beginTenure endBritish monarchChinese leader
John Hutchison12 October 19491951George VIMao Zedong
Leo Lamb13 February 19511953George VIMao Zedong
Humphrey Trevelyan22 August 19531955Elizabeth IIMao Zedong
Con O'Neill26 June 19551957Elizabeth IIMao Zedong
Duncan Wilson19571959Elizabeth IIMao Zedong
Michael Stewart28 August 19591962Elizabeth IIMao Zedong
Terence Garvey19621965Elizabeth IIMao Zedong
Donald Hopson19651968Elizabeth IIMao Zedong
Percy CradockAugust 1968February 1969Elizabeth IIMao Zedong
John Denson196918 November 1971Elizabeth IIMao Zedong

Ambassadors to the People's Republic of China

NameTenure beginTenure endBritish MonarchParamount leader
Sir John Addis26 January 197217 June 1974Elizabeth IIMao Zedong
Sir Edward Youde29 August 19741978Elizabeth IIMao Zedong
Sir Percy Cradock15 June 19781984Elizabeth IIHua Guofeng
Sir Richard Evans23 January 19841988Elizabeth IIDeng Xiaoping
Sir Alan Donald26 May 19881991Elizabeth IIDeng Xiaoping
Sir Robin McLaren20 June 19911994Elizabeth IIDeng Xiaoping
Sir Leonard Appleyard24 September 19941997Elizabeth IIJiang Zemin
Sir Anthony Galsworthy29 December 19972002Elizabeth IIJiang Zemin
Sir Christopher Hum4 April 20022006Elizabeth IIJiang Zemin
Sir William Ehrman15 March 20062010Elizabeth IIHu Jintao
Sir Sebastian Wood3 March 20102015Elizabeth IIHu Jintao
Dame Barbara Woodward14 April 20152020Elizabeth IIXi Jinping
Dame Caroline WilsonSeptember 2020August 2025Elizabeth IIXi Jinping
Dame Caroline WilsonSeptember 2020August 2025Charles IIIXi Jinping
Peter WilsonAugust 2025Charles IIIXi Jinping