Ernst Jaakson

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Ernst Rudolf Jaakson (11 August 1905, Riga, Livonia (then Russian Empire) – 4 September 1998, New York, United States)[1] was an Estonian diplomat whose contribution was to maintain Estonia's legal continuity with his uninterrupted diplomatic service for 69 years.[2]

Education

Jaakson studied economics at the University of Latvia in Riga, and law at the University of Tartu. He later graduated from Columbia University in New York with a degree in economics.

Diplomatic career

In 1919, Jaakson began work in the

Consulate General
in New York.

When the

Soviet Union occupied Estonia in 1940 and again in 1944, the United States and other democratic nations invoked the Stimson Doctrine, did not recognize the legality of Soviet annexation of Estonia, and continued to recognize the diplomatic representatives of the Republic of Estonia. In 1965, when his predecessor, Johannes Kaiv, died, Jaakson became the consul in charge of the legation
. Thus, he was the chief diplomatic representative of Estonia in the United States until Estonia regained independence in 1991.

In 1969, he issued a statement for Estonia to the

Diplomatic Corps. During the long years of the Soviet occupation when the Baltic states
' representatives in the West were often the object of curiosity or humorous dismissal, Jaakson commanded near-universal respect, and he did so not peremptorily but by his personal authority.

In 1991, Jaakson was appointed Estonia's ambassador to the United States and Estonia's permanent representative to the

consul general
in New York.

Autobiography

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. He died in New York in 1998, at the age of 93. He worked in the Estonian Foreign Service for 79 years and served as a diplomat for 69 years.

References

  1. ^ "Ernst Jaaksoni sünnist möödus 110 aastat". vm.ee. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  2. .
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Consul General of Estonia to the United States
1965–1991
Succeeded by
Sten Schwede
Preceded by
none
Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations
1991–1994
Succeeded by