Konstantin Päts (0)

Born: February 23rd, 1874
(Tahkuranna Parish)
Died: January 18th, 1956
(Kalninin, Russia)
Lawyer (University of
Tartu)
First president of Republic
of Estonia
Päts was born in Tahkuranna Parish to a family of Jakob Päts
and Olga Tumanova.
He started learning in local school. Continued in Riga's seminar
and then went to Pärnu's Gymnasium. He graduated in
Tartu University
In 1898, Päts graduated from the
faculty of Law of Tartu University.
From 1901 to 1905 he worked as
an editor in newspaper "Teataja".
Päts had to escape from Estonia,
because he was found guilty for
rebellious activity.
Päts lived in Finland and
Switzerland and returned to Estonia
in 1909, when he had to serve nine
months in St. Petersburg's prison.
Päts was a member of the Salvation Committee that issued the
Estonian Declaration of Independence on 24 February 1918.
On the same day Päts was appointed Chairman of the Council of
Ministers and Minister of the Interior of Republic of Estonia.
From 1920 to 1933 he was the State Elder of Estonia five times.
On March 12th,
1934 Päts made with
Johan Laidoner
coup d'état to ensure
their power, as Vaps
movement threatened
it. Vaps were put in to
prison and were
found guilty in
planning coup d'état.
From 1934 to 1937 he was the
prime minister in duties of
state elder.
From 1937 to 1938 he was the
State Elder of Estonia.
From 1938 to 1940 he was the
first president of Estonia.
A week after Soviet occupation
in Estonia had started, Päts was
deported to Siberia. In 1954 he
was brought to Jämejala's Mental
Hospital. But was soon sent to
Kalinin's oblast in Russian SSR.
Actually Päts was not mentally ill. It was just a easy
way how to get rid of former head of state.
Päts died in Kanin's Mental Hospital on January 18,
1956.
His grave was found in 1990 and Päts was reburied
to Tallinn's Forest Cemetery.