Broken Link

You have clicked on a link formatted for an older version of our website. Although we are trying to clean up these older links, we could not automatically re-direct you to the current site's corresponding content.

Below is the archived article:

ERNST JAAKSON - Diplomat

2009-08-26 15:29:55
One of the greatest men who fought for the continuity of the Republic of Estonia.

/Lennart Meri, President of Estonia/


Ernst Jaakson is regarded as a unique diplomat who kept Estonia's legal continuity with his uninterrupted diplomatic service for 79 years.

Ernst Jaakson was born in Riga, Latvia on 11 August 1905. He studied economy at the University of Latvia and law at the University of Tartu. He graduated from Columbia University with the BA degree in economics.

 
Ernst Jaakson and George Bush in the White House in 1991
Photo from Estonian National Archive

In 1919, Jaakson began work in the Estonian Embassy in Riga. In 1926 - 1928, he fulfilled his national service obligation, after which, in 1928, he started work in the Information Division of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1929 - 1932, Ernst Jaakson worked as the secretary of the Estonian honorary consul in San Francisco. In 1932 he was assigned to the Estonian Consulate General in New York.  
Ernst Jaakson and Johannes Paulus II in Washington in 1979
Photo from Estonian National Archive

When the Soviet Union occupied Estonia in 1940 and again in 1944, the United States continued to recognize the diplomatic representatives of the Republic of Estonia. In 1965, when his predecessor died, Jaakson became the consul in charge of legation. Thus, he was the chief diplomatic representative of the Estonian Republic in the United States of America until Estonia again became independent.  
Ernst Jaakson, Nancy Reagan and Ronald Reagan
Photo from Estonian National Archive

In 1991, after the restoration of independence, Ernst Jaakson was appointed Estonia's ambassador to the United States and Estonia's permanent representative to the United Nations.
From 1993, Ernst Jaakson continued his work as the Estonian consul general in New York.
In 1995, President Lennart Meri awarded him with the I Class Order of the National Coat of Arms.


Ernst Jaakson with his book "Eestile"		   In 1995, Ernst Jaakson's autobiographical book "Eestile" ("For Estonia") was published, which deals not only with his life, but also gives a very good overview of the diplomatic developments which took place over the years.

Ernst Jaakson died in New York on 4 September 1998, having served the Republic of Estonia for 79 years. In his will, he left more than 8.5 million kroons (~0.5 million EUR) to the University of Tartu as a scholarship fund.