Trygve Lie

Trygve Halvdan Lie was born in Norway on 16 July 1896, and rose through labour politics and government to become foreign minister in 1940. He spent the war years in that role, working from London as part of Norway's government in exile while his country remained under occupation. When the United Nations formed in 1945, Lie was chosen as its first Secretary-General — the inaugural holder of a position with no precedent and no map. He navigated the early Cold War until stepping down, then returned to Norway. He died on 30 December 1968.