author
Pehr Evind Svinhufvud
1861–1944
A central figure in Finland’s fight for independence, he moved from the courtroom into the heart of national politics at a turning point in the country’s history. Later, as president, he became known for his firm, conservative leadership and his role in defending the young republic.
1 Audiobook
Svinhufvudin kertomukset Siperiasta
by Pehr Evind Svinhufvud
About the author
Born in 1861, Pehr Evind Svinhufvud was a Finnish lawyer, judge, and statesman who became one of the best-known leaders of Finland’s independence era. Trained in law, he first built his reputation in public service and in resistance to Russian rule over Finland, which eventually led to his exile to Siberia during the last years of the Russian Empire.
After returning in 1917, he took on a leading role in the dramatic events that followed the Russian Revolution. He headed the Finnish Senate at the moment when Finland declared independence, and he later served as the new nation’s first head of state before the republic settled into its constitutional form.
Svinhufvud went on to serve as Finland’s third president from 1931 to 1937. Remembered as a determined and symbolic figure in Finnish public life, he stood for legality, order, and national independence, and remained closely linked with the story of how modern Finland was established.