US Consul General visits East Lothian

The Stars and Stripes flew over Athelstaneford last month as the United States Consul General in Edinburgh, Kathryn Porter, visited the county.

Ms Porter assumed charge as U.S. Consul General in Edinburgh in August 2024 following previous overseas postings to Moscow, Krakow, Johannesburg, Toronto, and Tijuana. 

Invited to tour East Lothian by Provost John McMillan, the Consul General visited John Muir’s Birthplace Museum in Dunbar, the Flag Heritage Centre at Athelstaneford, Glenkinchie Distillery near Pencaitland and the new Edinburgh Innovation HUB. At each stop on their short tour of East Lothian, they met with staff, trustees, and business leaders to hear about their work and ongoing connections with the USA.

Provost John McMillan said: “East Lothian has deep and historic links with the United States, not least through John Muir who is seen as instrumental in the establishment of the network of National Park in the U.S. and continues to inspire people all over the world to this day. Some 25 per cent of overseas visitors to East Lothian are from the U.S. and we were very happy to hear from the Consul General that ‘brand Scotland’ continues to grow in popularity in the USA.”

U.S Consul General Kathryn Porter said: “I am deeply impressed by the rich cultural heritage and innovative spirit of East Lothian. The strong ties between our communities are evident in the shared history and ongoing collaborations we witnessed during this visit. I look forward to fostering even greater connections that will benefit both the United States and East Lothian.”