Julius Seljamaa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julius Seljamaa
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Julius Seljamaa c. 1933–1934
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| Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia | |
| In office 21 October 1933 – 2 June 1936 |
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| Preceded by | Ants Piip |
| Succeeded by | Friedrich Akel |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Julius Friedrich Seljamaa
8 April 1883 Sindi, Pärnu County, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire |
| Died | 17 June 1936 (aged 53) Tallinn, Estonia |
| Resting place | Rahumäe Cemetery |
| Political party | Estonian Labour Party |
| Alma mater | Saint Petersburg State University |
Julius Friedrich Seljamaa (born April 8, 1883 – died June 17, 1936) was an important Estonian politician. He was also a skilled diplomat and a journalist. From 1933 to 1936, he served as Estonia's Minister of Foreign Affairs. This role meant he was in charge of Estonia's relationships with other countries.
Contents
Who Was Julius Seljamaa?
Early Life and Education
Julius Seljamaa was born in Sindi, a town in Pärnu County. He studied in Riga from 1899 to 1902. After his studies, he became a teacher. He worked at a school in Taali from 1902 to 1909. Later, he was the director of that school. From 1909 to 1914, he taught at a school in Rakvere.
He then moved to Saint Petersburg to study law. He attended Saint Petersburg State University. While studying, he also worked as a journalist.
A Key Figure in Estonian Independence
During the Russian Revolution in 1917, Seljamaa played an active role. He was a delegate, meaning a representative, at an important meeting called the First All-Russian Congress of Soviets. He also became a member of a key committee for the Estonian Labour Party.
After finishing his law studies, Seljamaa returned to Estonia. This was shortly after Estonia declared its independence in February 1918. When Jüri Vilms passed away in 1918, Seljamaa took over his roles. He became the chairman of the Estonian Labour Party. He also became the editor-in-chief of the party's newspaper, Vaba Maa. He held this newspaper role from 1918 to 1921.
Julius Seljamaa helped Estonia gain its freedom. He worked with Johan Laidoner as Estonia's representative to the Soviet Union. He was part of the talks for the Treaty of Tartu. This was a peace treaty between Estonia and Soviet Russia. The negotiations happened in 1919 and 1920. In 1919, he was elected to the Estonian Constituent Assembly. This was a group that helped create Estonia's first constitution. He was also a member of the National Defence Committee.
Diplomat and Foreign Minister
In 1920, Seljamaa was elected to the I Riigikogu. The Riigikogu is Estonia's parliament. However, he left this position in 1922. He was appointed as an Estonian envoy in Latvia. An envoy is a diplomat who represents their country in another nation. He served in Latvia until 1928. From 1925 to 1926, he also represented Estonia in Lithuania.
From 1928 to 1933, he was Estonia's envoy to the Soviet Union. His diplomatic career was very important for Estonia. From 1933 until just before his death in 1936, he served as the Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs. This was a very high-ranking position.
Julius Seljamaa passed away in Tallinn in 1936. He had just been appointed as Estonia's envoy in Rome. He is buried at Rahumäe Cemetery in Tallinn.
Awards and Recognition
Julius Seljamaa received several important awards for his service to Estonia. These honors show his dedication and hard work for his country.
