Leo Mechelin
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Leopold Henrik Stanislaus Mechelin (24 November 1839 – 26 January 1914), known as Leo Mechelin, was a Finnish politician, professor, liberal reformer and businessman. [1] A leading defender of the autonomy of the Grand Duchy of Finland, and of the rights of women and minorities, Mechelin's 1905–1908 government ("Mechelin's Senate") made Finland the first nation in the world with the
, Finland.Career
He also founded the Liberal Party of Finland (1880–1885), wrote its program, was one of the founders of the Union Bank of Finland 1862 (now part of Nordea Bank) and co-founded the Nokia Company (1871) with Fredrik Idestam, was the first chairman of the town council of Helsinki (1875–1876 and 1892–1899) and an internationally respected expert on politology and member of peace movement. Emperor Alexander II ennobled Mechelin 1876.
Mechelin led the passive resistance in Finland during the
Biography
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Born in Hamina in 1839, the son of Gustaf Johan Mechelin and Amanda Gustava Costiander, Leo Mechelin studied at the University of Helsinki, gaining his bachelor's and master's degrees in philosophy in 1860, a bachelor's degree in law in 1864, and a license and doctorate in 1873.
As professor of jurisdiction and politology 1874–82, Mechelin had argued that the tsars were bound by the
During the periods of oppression, the tsar tried to impose unconstitutional laws, which Mechelin opposed. The
Nokia, once a world-leading mobile phone corporation, was founded by Mechelin and his student days' roommate Fredrik Idestam as a forestry company.[2]
Later, Mechelin's wish to expand into the electricity business was at first thwarted by Idestam's opposition, but Mechelin managed to convince most shareholders of his plans and became the company chairman (1898–1914), thus being able to realise his visions.
Mechelin was active in
Leo Mechelin has received several accolades and honorary dedications following the Russian revolutions and the Finnish Declaration of Independence, including several streets named after him such as Mechelininkatu (in Helsinki) and Mechelinintie (in Hamina).
Finnish sculptor Walter Runeberg made a sculpture of Mechelin's bust for his 70th birthday. Today the statue sits on the steps to the House of the Estates, which is a major governmental building in central Helsinki.[4]
One of his siblings was the opera singer Emilie Mechelin.[citation needed]
References
- Eduskunta - edustajamatrikkeli (in Finnish)
- Specific
- Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland. urn:NBN:fi:sls-4792-1416928957398.
- ISBN 9780814407141.
leo mechelin and nokia.
- ^ Tapio Helen (16 September 1997). "Mechelin, Leo (1839 - 1914)". Biografiakeskus. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ^ "Leo Mechelin : Walter Runeberg". HAM (in Finnish). Retrieved 29 December 2020.
Further reading
- Sigurd Nordenstreng (1936), L. Mechelin : hans statsmannagärning och politiska personlighet. 1 / S. Nordenstreng., Wikidata Q113519072
- Sigurd Nordenstreng (1937), L. Mechelin : hans statsmannagärning och politiska personlighet. 2 / S. Nordenstreng., Wikidata Q113519080