Anton Uesson

Anton Uesson (12 January 1879 – 13 April 1942)^[1] was an Estonian politician and engineer.

Early life and career

Born in Haimre Parish, Kreis Wiek, Governorate of Estonia (now Rapla County, Estonia),^[2] Uesson graduated from the Theological Seminary in Riga, present-day Latvia in 1902. In 1910, he finished his studies at the Riga Polytechnic Institute, graduating cum laude with a degree as a civil engineer.^[2] He began his career as an architect and engineer by constructing many of Tallinn's Jugendstil buildings in the 1910s, working for Tallinn's then-mayor Voldemar Lender. By the spring of 1912, Uesson was constructing over 40 houses in the capital city.^[3]

Politics

In 1918 Uesson was a founding member and member of the board of trustees of the Tallinn Technical Institute.^[4] In 1919, Anton Uesson was elected the Mayor of Tallinn; a post which he held until 1934, when he became deputy mayor, which post was renamed mayor since 1 May 1938.

In 1928, when the Tallinn city government learned that Herbert Hoover had been elected the United States president, Anton Uesson sent Hoover a congratulatory telegram. Hoover had previously, in 1920, been elected an Honorary Citizen of Tallinn. On December 4, Vaba Maa reported on President-elect Hoover's gracious response to Uesson from California.^[5]

Death

In 1940, during the Soviet invasion of Estonia in World War II, Uesson was arrested by Soviet authorities, along with many other prominent Estonian politicians and intellectuals. He was sent to a gulag in Sverdlovsk oblast (present day Yekaterinburg) and executed by gunshot on 13 April 1942.^[1]

Achievements

• 1917, Estonian Engineering Society, a founder and first chairman.
• 1918–1919, Founding member of the Tallinn Technical School and a member of the board of trustees.
• 1920–1922, I EV Riigikogu.
• 1920–1940, The Paramilitaries Endowment Committee Chairman.
• 1920–1940, Chair of the Board of the Association of Estonian Cities.^[6]
• 1935–1940, Engineering's Chairman Committee.
• 1937, Member of the Estonian National Assembly (Rahvuskogu).
• 1938–1940, National Council (Riiginõukogu) member.

Awards

• 1928 Order of the Estonian Red Cross I, Step II, 1928
• 1930 The Ribbon of the Decoration, Class III, 1930
• 1934 Memorial in the Estonian Red Cross Level II Phase I, 1934
• 1938 Order of the White Star, Class II, 1938

Quotes

“

The stronger the control of local governments, the better the local government representatives and leaders have managed these governments.

”

– Anton Uesson, 1938^[7]

References

1. Mati Unt and Eric Dickens: Brecht at Night. pg. 161. Dalkey Archive Pr; First English Translation edition July 14, 2009. ISBN 1-56478-532-7
2. Tallinna Tehnikaülikooli Raamatukogu (Tallinn Technical School)
3. Estonian Art 1' 1999
4. Bioneer (in Estonian)
5. Herbert Hoover Comes to Tallinn
6. Estonica:Local Self-government: Definition, its Position in Public Administration and Historical Development
7. Oviir, Mihkel: Juridica International: Extension of the National Audit Office’s Powers to Audit of Local Governments: Limitation or Constitutional Protection of Local Democracy? pp. 116–124. 2007

External links

• Bioneer (in Estonian)
• Tallinna Tehnikaülikooli Raamatukogu (Tallinn Technical School)

Further reading

• Linnapea A. Uesson 60-aastane. Uus Eesti, 12 January 1939, no. 11. pp 6.