Holleben Theodor von

Theodor von Holleben (18 September 1838 Stettin, Pomerania – 31 January 1913 Berlin) was a German diplomat. Holleben was educated at the universities of Heidelberg, Berlin and Göttingen; became an officer in the Bodyguard Hussar Regiment; and took part in the Franco-Prussian War.

He entered the diplomatic service in 1872; was chargé d'affaires at Beijing, China, 1873–1874, and at Tokyo, Japan, in 1875; minister at Buenos Aires 1876-1884, at Tokyo 1885-1889, and at Washington, D.C., 1892-93. In 1897 he became ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the United States.

At the command of Emperor William, he, together with Secretary John Hay, of the State Department, had charge of the arrangements for the official reception of the emperor's brother, Admiral Prince Henry, in February 1902. Failing health together with his inability to have President Roosevelt arbitrate the German-Venezuelan dispute caused his resignation, and in 1903 he was succeeded by Baron Hermann Speck von Sternburg. While serving in the US, von Holleben received an Honorary doctorate (LL.D.) from Harvard University in June 1901.