Mihkel Martna facts for kids

Mihkel Martna (born September 17, 1860, in Paimpere, died May 23, 1934, in Tallinn) was an important Estonian politician and journalist. He is remembered as one of the first Estonians to champion workers' rights and social fairness. This earned him the nickname "the father of Estonian social democracy." He played a key role in Estonia's journey to independence and its early years as a free country.

Mihkel Martna: Early Life and Ideas

Mihkel Martna was born in a place called Kreis Wiek, which is now part of Pärnu County in Estonia. He went to a local village school. After school, he worked as a farm laborer. Later, he moved to Tallinn to become a house painter.

During this time, he learned about the workers' movement in Europe. He became very interested in ideas like socialism and Marxism. Since he was one of the first Estonians to get involved in these ideas, people called him "the father of Estonian social democracy." When he was young, he also helped with the Estonian national movement. He wrote articles for newspapers like Postimees and Sakala. He also collected old stories and traditions from Estonian folklore.

Spreading Socialist Ideas

Mihkel Martna worked hard to share socialist ideas in Tallinn. In the late 1880s, he lived in Tartu and tried to influence students there. Later, he had some disagreements with other socialists in Tartu and moved back to Tallinn.

A Leader in Times of Change

Martna took part in the 1905 Russian Revolution. Because of his involvement, he had to live away from Estonia from 1906 to 1917. He spent most of this time in countries like Switzerland, Germany, and Finland.

Supporting Estonian Independence

In early 1918, Martna had seen how independent Finland worked. This made him decide to strongly support Estonia becoming an independent country too. Soon after, he and other thinkers formed the Estonian Socialist Workers' Party. He later became the leader of the party's left wing.

Martna was also part of Estonia's groups that worked with other countries. He, along with Jaan Tõnisson and Karl Menning, led Estonia's foreign delegation. He was also the first person to represent Estonia in Germany in 1919.

Role in Estonian Government

Mihkel Martna was a member of several important Estonian assemblies. He was part of the Estonian Provincial Assembly and the Estonian Constituent Assembly. He also served in the Riigikogu, which is Estonia's parliament, from its first to fourth terms. From 1929 to 1934, Martna was the vice-chairman of the Riigikogu.

He was a very important person in shaping the political life of the Republic of Estonia. He was also a main thinker for the Estonian Socialist Workers' Party. In 1919, he helped get the Socialist Workers' International to recognize Estonia's independence.

Awards and recognitions

• Honorary doctor of the University of Tartu, 1930.