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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 PoskaVR III/1 (Estonian pronunciation:[ˈjɑːnˈposkɑ]; 24 January [O.S. 12 January] 1866,Laiusevälja, nearJõgeva,Estonia – 7 March 1920,Tallinn, Estonia) was a lawyer, politician and theforeign minister of Estonia in 1918–1919.
Poska was born the fifth of 12 children of aEastern Orthodox parish schoolmaster and received his secondary education at the church's school inRiga. He entered medical school at theUniversity of Tartu, but soon transferred to law where he graduated in 1890.[1] Poska was the first native Estonian-speaking person admitted to thebar in Tallinn, where he worked asbarrister.
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 theAutonomous Governorate of Estonia. 28 November [O.S. 15 November] 1917 theMaapäev refused to recognize the newBolshevik rule and proclaimed itself the supreme legal authority of Estonia. TheRepublic of Estonia declared independence on 24 February 1918, only to be occupied by theGerman Empire until the end ofWorld War I in November 1918. The followingEstonian War of Independence against the Soviet Russian invasion lasted until February 1920.
On 24 February 1918, Poska was appointed theMinister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia. He worked in Western Europe for gaining diplomatic recognition to Estonia and participated inParis Peace Conference. He led the peace talks withSoviet Russia and achievedTreaty of Tartu which was signed on 2 February 1920. He also helped to write the first Estonian constitution.[2]
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.[2]
Poska's daughterVera Poska-Grünthal was a leading Estonian feminist and lawyer who was married to politician and lawyerTimotheus Grünthal. American lawyerSharon L. Gleason is Jaan Poska's great granddaughter.[3]Canadian actressAlison Pill is Poska's great great granddaughter.[4]
Media related toJaan Poska at Wikimedia Commons| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Mayor of Tallinn 1913–1917 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by none | Governor of Estonia 1917–1918 | Succeeded by Imperial German occupation |
| Preceded by (no such position) | Minister of Foreign Affairs February 24, 1918–1919 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
