Jaan Poska

Jaan Poska
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 24 February 1918 – 20 September 1919
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Ants Piip
Mayor of Tallinn
In office 1913–1917
Preceded by	Voldemar Lender
Succeeded by	Gavriil Beljagin
Personal details
Born	(1866-01-24)24 January 1866 Laiusevälja, Kreis Dorpat, Governorate of Livonia
Died	7 March 1920(1920-03-07) (aged 54) Tallinn, Estonia
Alma mater	University of Tartu

Jaan Poska VR III/1 (Estonian pronunciation: [ˈjɑːn ˈposkɑ]; 24 January [O.S. 12 January] 1866, Laiusevälja, near Jõgeva, Estonia – 7 March 1920, Tallinn, Estonia) was a lawyer, politician and the foreign minister of Estonia in 1918–1919.

Early life

Poska was born the fifth of 12 children of a Eastern Orthodox parish schoolmaster and received his secondary education at the church's school in Riga. He entered medical school at the University of Tartu, but soon transferred to law where he graduated in 1890. Poska was the first native Estonian-speaking person admitted to the bar in Tallinn, where he worked as barrister.

Career

Jaan Poska's home (now at Poska Street, Kadriorg, Tallinn

Graves of Jaan Poska and family in Tallinn

Jaan Poska was mayor of Tallinn during 1913–1917. In that position he supported reforms, like reforming healthcare and founding two schools. In April 1917, he became governor of the Autonomous Governorate of Estonia. 28 November [O.S. 15 November] 1917 the Maapäev refused to recognize the new Bolshevik rule and proclaimed itself the supreme legal authority of Estonia. The Republic of Estonia declared independence on 24 February 1918, only to be occupied by the German Empire until the end of World War I in November 1918. The following Estonian War of Independence against the Soviet Russian invasion lasted until February 1920.

On 24 February 1918, Poska was appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia. He worked in Western Europe for gaining diplomatic recognition to Estonia and participated in Paris Peace Conference. He led the peace talks with Soviet Russia and achieved Treaty of Tartu which was signed on 2 February 1920. He also helped to write the first Estonian constitution.

Poska died unexpectedly on 7 March 1920 at the age of 54. He was the first Estonian ever to be given the state funeral and over 20,000 people attended it.

Personal life

Poska's daughter Vera Poska-Grünthal was a leading Estonian feminist and lawyer who was married to politician and lawyer Timotheus Grünthal. American lawyer Sharon L. Gleason is Jaan Poska's great granddaughter.

See also

• Estonian War of Independence
• Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920)
• Treaty of Tartu (Russian–Estonian)

Citations

• Ülo Kaevats et al. 2000. Eesti Entsüklopeedia 14. Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus, ISBN 9985-70-064-3

Cited sources

• Miljan, Toivo (2004). Historical Dictionary of Estonia. Maryland, USA: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-4904-6.

External links

• Media related to Jaan Poska at Wikimedia Commons
• Tartu rahu sepistaja Jaan Poska väärib monumenti (Estonian)
• Livland. Estland. Kurland. Œsel.
• On 28 November 1917, the Estonian Diet (the Maapäev) declared itself fee supreme power in Estonia.
• On 28 November 1917, the Land council proclaimed itself the highest power in Estonia...
• On This Day - 28 November 1917
• Though the popularly elected Provisional National Council, had proclaimed itself the highest authority in Estonia as early as 28 November 1917...