Jaan Poska

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Jaan Poska

|image = Virumaa Muuseumid RM F 1358 1, Jaan Poska.jpg

|office1 = Minister of Foreign Affairs

|term_start1 = 24 February 1918

|term_end1 = 20 September 1919

|predecessor1 = Position established

|successor1 = Ants Piip

|office2 = Mayor of Tallinn

|term_start2 = 1913

|term_end2 = 1917

|predecessor2 = Voldemar Lender

|successor2 = Gavriil Beljagin

|birth_date = {{birth date|1866|1|24|df=y}}

|birth_place = Laiusevälja, Kreis Dorpat, Governorate of Livonia

|death_date = {{death date and age|1920|03|07|1866|1|24|df=y}}

|death_place = Tallinn, Estonia

|party =

|spouse =

|children =

|alma_mater = University of Tartu

}}

Jaan Poska VR III/1 ({{IPA|et|ˈjɑːn ˈposkɑ}}; {{OldStyleDate|24 January|1866|12 January}}, 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 an 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.{{sfn|Miljan|2004|p=383}} Poska was the first native Estonian-speaking person admitted to the bar in Tallinn, where he worked as barrister.

Career

File:Tallinn, Villa J.Poska 8, 19. saj.jpg, Tallinn]]

File:Poska,Jaan haud.IMG 0938.JPG

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. {{OldStyleDateNY|28 November|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.{{sfn|Miljan|2004|p=385}}

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.{{sfn|Miljan|2004|p=385}}

Personal life

File:Jaan Poska monument Kadriorus, skulptor Elo Liiv, 2016.jpg, Tallinn by sculptor Elo Liiv]]

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.{{cite web |title=Vera Grünthal Gleason obituary |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/democratandchronicle/name/vera-gleason-obituary?id=9942991 |publisher=Legacy.com |access-date=30 July 2023}}

Canadian actress Alison Pill is Poska's great great granddaughter. {{cite web |title=Alison Pill Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Erw7HF4Oh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link |publisher=Instagram.com |access-date=2 February 2020}}

Citations

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

=Cited sources=

{{Cite book

|last=Miljan

|first=Toivo

|year=2004

|title=Historical Dictionary of Estonia

|language=en

|location=Maryland, USA

|publisher=Scarecrow Press

|isbn=0-8108-4904-6

}}

External links

{{Commons category-inline}}
[http://kultuur.elu.ee/ke483_poska.htm Tartu rahu sepistaja Jaan Poska väärib monumenti (Estonian)]
[http://www.baltische-ritterschaften.de/ Livland. Estland. Kurland. Œsel.]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070609123653/http://www.humanrights.coe.int/minorities/Eng/FrameworkConvention/StateReports/1999/estonia/estonian.htm On 28 November 1917, the Estonian Diet (the Maapäev) declared itself fee supreme power in Estonia.]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070610022327/http://www.estonica.org/eng/lugu.html?menyy_id=97&kateg=43&alam=61&leht=5 On 28 November 1917, the Land council proclaimed itself the highest power in Estonia...]
[http://www.firstworldwar.com/onthisday/1917_11_28.htm On This Day - 28 November 1917]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070609214734/http://www.einst.ee/factsheets/factsheets_uus_kuju/judicial_reform_in_estonia.htm Though the popularly elected Provisional National Council, had proclaimed itself the highest authority in Estonia as early as 28 November 1917...]

{{succession box | before=Voldemar Lender | title=Mayor of Tallinn | years=1913–1917| after=Gavriil Beljagin}}

{{succession box | before=none | title=Governor of Estonia | years=1917–1918| after=Imperial German occupation}}

{{succession box | before=(no such position) | title=Minister of Foreign Affairs | years=February 24, 1918–1919| after=Ants Piip}}

Category:1866 births

Category:1920 deaths

Category:People from Jõgeva Parish

Category:Politicians from Jõgeva County

Category:People from Kreis Dorpat

Category:Eastern Orthodox Christians from Estonia

Category:Estonian People's Party politicians

Category:Ministers of foreign affairs of Estonia

Category:Russian Constituent Assembly members