Estonian prime minister who concluded the Treaty of Tartu, publisher of Postimees
Editor of the Tartu newspaper Postimees from 1896, he represented the liberal wing of the Estonian national movement, founded the Progressive People's Party in 1905 and sat in the Russian Duma. In 1917 he led the delegation demanding Estonian autonomy from the Provisional Government and after the declaration of independence sought recognition in the West. He became prime minister in November 1919 and backed the peace talks with Soviet Russia that opened at Tartu in December; the treaty of 2 February 1920 was signed under his government. He served as State Elder and speaker of parliament in the 1920s and was State Elder for the last time in 1933. Opposing Päts's authoritarian regime in 1934, he lost Postimees and was pushed out of politics. Arrested after the Soviet occupation of 1940, he disappeared and is presumed to have been executed in Tallinn in 1941.
Related historical events
- 1918–1922The Civil War and Foreign InterventionEstonian prime minister during the Tartu settlementA journalist and liberal politician, he was prime minister in 1919–1920 when Estonia concluded the Treaty of Tartu. Arrested after Soviet occupation, he disappeared and is presumed to have died in 1941.
- 1918.11–1920.10Baltic wars of independence and border settlementsEstonian prime minister during the Tartu settlementBecame prime minister in November 1919 and backed the Tartu peace talks; the treaty of 2 February 1920 was signed under his government.
Revolution and independence wars
A journalist and liberal politician, he was prime minister in 1919–1920 when Estonia concluded the Treaty of Tartu. Arrested after Soviet occupation, he disappeared and is presumed to have died in 1941.