Konstantin Päts
Estonian politician (1874-1956) · Estonia · On the map · Politicians · Died at 81
Konstantin Päts was an Estonian statesman and the country's president from 1938 to 1940. Päts was one of the most influential politicians of the independent democratic Republic of Estonia, and during the two decades prior to World War II he also served five times as the country's State Elder.
Konstantin Päts is read about 175 times a day, in 55 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 10 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 400 days, one point a day.
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Photos 12
Päts with his family (from left): brother Nikolai, sister Marianna, father Jakob, brother Voldemar, mother Olga, brother Peeter, and Konstantin Päts (far right).
Ensign officer Konstantin Päts in 1917
Konstantin Päts was one of the authors of the Estonian Declaration of Independence in February 1918.
Päts gave the first traditional speech at the Independence Day parade on 24 February 1919.
Weak representation in the left wing dominated Constituent Assembly left Konstantin Päts with little power in composing the land reform law and the 1920 constitution.
Oru palace in Toila was used as the head of state's summer residence by Päts. The buildings were destroyed in World War II.
Man with Decorations. Portrait of Päts by Andrus Johani (1936)Awards
About this person
After the 16-17 June 1940 Soviet invasion and occupation of Estonia, Päts remained formally in office for over a month, until he was forced to resign, imprisoned by the new Stalinist regime, and deported to the USSR, where he died in 1956.
