Julius Friedrich Seljamaa ( – 17 June 1936) was an
Estonia
Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and to the east by Ru ...
n politician, diplomat and journalist. From 1933 to 1936, he was the
Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Biography
Seljamaa was born in
Sindi Sindi may refer to:
*Sindi people, an ancient people of the Taman Peninsula, nowadays Russia
*Sindi, Estonia, a town in Pärnu County, Estonia
*Sindi, Maharashtra, a town and municipal council in Wardha District, Maharashtra, India
Persons with th ...
,
Pärnu County
Pärnu County ( or ''Pärnumaa''; ) is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is situated in the south-western part of the country, on the coast of Gulf of Riga, and borders Lääne and Rapla counties to the north, Järva and Viljandi counties to ...
. He studied in
Riga
Riga ( ) is the capital, Primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Latvia, largest city of Latvia. Home to 591,882 inhabitants (as of 2025), the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga Planni ...
from 1899 to 1902, and then worked as a teacher and later director at a school in
Taali from 1902 until 1909. From 1909 until 1914, he worked at a school in
Rakvere
Rakvere is the administrative center, or county seat, of Lääne-Viru County in northern Estonia, about 100 km southeast of Tallinn and 20 km south of the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea.
Rakvere boasts a distinctive architectural feature: th ...
. He then moved to
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...
to study law at
Saint Petersburg State University
Saint Petersburg State University (SPBGU; ) is a public research university in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Russia. Founded in 1724 by a decree of Peter the Great, the university from the be ...
and work as a journalist. During the
Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution was a period of Political revolution (Trotskyism), political and social revolution, social change in Russian Empire, Russia, starting in 1917. This period saw Russia Dissolution of the Russian Empire, abolish its mona ...
in 1917, Seljamaa participated as a delegate to the
, and served as a member of the first
All-Russian Central Executive Committee
The All-Russian Central Executive Committee () was (June – November 1917) a permanent body formed by the First All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies (held from June 16 to July 7, 1917 in Petrograd), then became the ...
for the
Estonian Labour Party
The Estonian Labour Party (, ETE) was a political party in Estonia. It was formed in 1919 by a merger of the Radical Socialist Party and the Social Travaillist Party, and ceased to exist in 1932, when it merged with other centrist parties to form ...
.
After graduating, Seljamaa returned to Estonia shortly after
the country's declaration of independence in February 1918. Upon the death of
Jüri Vilms
Jüri Vilms (, Arkma, Kabala Parish (now Türi Parish), Kreis Fellin, Governorate of Livonia – May 2, 1918, Hauho near Hämeenlinna, Finland, place unconfirmed) was a member of the Estonian Salvation Committee and the first Deputy Prime Minis ...
in 1918, Seljamaa succeeded him as chairman of the Estonian Labour Party, as well as editor-in-chief of the party's newspaper ''
Vaba Maa'' from 1918 until 1921. Together with
Johan Laidoner
Johan Laidoner ( – 13 March 1953) was an Estonian general and statesman. He served as Commander‑in‑Chief of the Estonian Armed Forces during the 1918–1920 Estonian War of Independence and was among the most influential people in the Eston ...
he became Estonia's representative to the
Soviet Union
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
, and participated in the negotiations of the
Treaty of Tartu in 1919 and 1920. He was elected to the
Estonian Constituent Assembly
The Estonian Constituent Assembly () was elected on 5–7 April 1919, called by the Estonian Provisional Government during the Estonian War of Independence.
Estonian Constituent Assembly elections
Activity
The 120 members of the Constituent ...
in 1919, where he was a member of the National Defence Committee.
In 1920, Seljamaa was elected to the I
Riigikogu
The Riigikogu (, from Estonian ''riigi-'', "of the state", and ''kogu'', "assembly") is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. In addition to approving legislation, the Parliament appoints high officials, including the prime minister and chi ...
, but resigned in 1922 upon being appointed Estonian envoy in
Latvia
Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...
, a post he held until 1928; between 1925 and 1926 he was also accredited to
Lithuania
Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...
. From 1928 until 1933, he served as envoy to the Soviet Union. From 1933 until shortly before his death in 1936, he was the Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Seljamaa died in
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Estonia, most populous city of Estonia. Situated on a Tallinn Bay, bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, it has a population of (as of 2025) and ...
, shortly after being appointed Estonian envoy in
Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
. He is buried at
Rahumäe Cemetery
Rahumäe (Estonian for 'peace hill' or 'quiet hill') is a subdistrict () in the district of Nõmme, Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It covers an area of and has a population of 3,075 (), and a population density of .
Rahumäe has a railway sta ...
in Tallinn.
Honours
National honours
* :
Cross of Liberty, III class, 2nd degree (1920)
* :
Order of the Estonian Red Cross
The Order of the Estonian Red Cross (; ) was instituted in 1920 by the Estonian Red Cross Society. The Order of the Estonian Red Cross is bestowed in order to give recognition for humanitarian services rendered in the interests of the Estonians, ...
, 1st class (1932)
* :
Order of the Cross of the Eagle
The Order of the Cross of the Eagle (; ) was instituted in 1928 by the Estonian Defence League to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Estonian independence. It was adopted as a state order in 1936. The Order of the Cross of the Eagle is bestowe ...
, 1st class (1934)
References
External links
Biography
1883 births
1936 deaths
People from Sindi, Estonia
Politicians from Pärnu County
People from Kreis Pernau
Estonian Labour Party politicians
Ministers of foreign affairs of Estonia
Members of the Estonian Provincial Assembly
Members of the Estonian Constituent Assembly
Members of the Riigikogu, 1920–1923
Ambassadors of Estonia to Latvia
Ambassadors of Estonia to Lithuania
Envoys of Estonia to the Soviet Union
Burials at Rahumäe Cemetery
Russian Constituent Assembly members
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