Ernst Jaakson facts for kids

Ernst Jaakson, a dedicated Estonian diplomat.

Ernst Rudolf Jaakson was a very important Estonian diplomat. He was born on August 11, 1905, in Riga. This city was then part of the Russian Empire. He passed away on September 4, 1998, in New York, USA. Ernst Jaakson worked as a diplomat for an amazing 69 years without stopping. His long service helped keep Estonia's official presence alive, even when the country was occupied.

Ernst Jaakson's Education Journey

Ernst Jaakson loved to learn. He first studied economics at the University of Latvia in Riga. He also studied law at the University of Tartu in Estonia. Later, he went to Columbia University in New York. There, he earned another degree in economics.

A Lifetime of Diplomacy: Ernst Jaakson's Career

Ernst Jaakson began his diplomatic career early. In 1919, he started working for Estonia in Riga. Estonia had just become an independent country. In 1928, he joined the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is the government department that handles relations with other countries.

Early Diplomatic Roles

From 1929 to 1932, Jaakson worked in San Francisco. He was a secretary for Estonia's honorary consul there. A consul is like a country's representative in another city. In 1932, he moved to the Estonian Consulate General in New York. This office helps Estonian citizens and promotes Estonia's interests.

Keeping Estonia's Presence Alive

A big challenge came when the Soviet Union took over Estonia. This happened in 1940 and again in 1944. But the United States and other democratic countries did not agree with this takeover. They used something called the Stimson Doctrine. This meant they did not recognize the Soviet Union's control over Estonia.

Because of this, they continued to recognize Estonia's diplomats. Ernst Jaakson became the main Estonian diplomat in the United States in 1965. He took over after his colleague, Johannes Kaiv, passed away. Jaakson was the chief representative for Estonia in the US until Estonia became independent again in 1991.

For many years, Jaakson was the longest-serving foreign diplomat in the US. He was known as the "unofficial" Dean of the Diplomatic Corps. This meant he was a respected leader among all the foreign diplomats. Even when people were curious about the Baltic states (like Estonia) during the Soviet occupation, Jaakson earned great respect. He did this through his strong personal authority.

After Estonia Regained Independence

When Estonia finally regained its independence in 1991, Jaakson's role changed. He was appointed Estonia's ambassador to the United States. An ambassador is the highest-ranking diplomat. He also became Estonia's permanent representative to the United Nations. This is a global organization where countries work together. From 1993, Jaakson continued his work as the Estonian consul general in New York.

Ernst Jaakson's Autobiography

In 1995, Ernst Jaakson wrote a book about his life. It was called Eestile, which means For Estonia. The book shares his life story. It also gives a great look at how diplomacy changed over many years. Ernst Jaakson passed away in New York in 1998. He was 93 years old. He worked for Estonia's Foreign Service for an amazing 79 years. He served as a diplomat for 69 of those years.