Antanas Merkys
| Antanas Merkys | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| de facto acting President of Lithuania | |
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In office 15 June 1940 – 17 June 1940 |
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| Preceded by | Antanas Smetona |
| Succeeded by | Justas Paleckis |
| 14th Prime Minister of Lithuania | |
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In office 21 November 1939 – 17 June 1940 |
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| Preceded by | Jonas Černius |
| Succeeded by | Justas Paleckis |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
20 January 1887 Bajorai, near Skapiškis, Russian Empire (now Lithuania) |
| Died | 5 March 1955 (aged 68) Vladimir Oblast, Soviet Union |
| Nationality | Lithuanian |
| Political party | Lithuanian Nationalist Union |
| Relations | Father: Karolis Merkys Mother: Ona Plukaitė-Merkienė |
| Alma mater | Saint Vladimir University |
| Occupation | Politician, lawyer |
Antanas Merkys (
pronunciation ; 1 February 1887 – 5 March 1955) was the last Prime Minister of independent Lithuania, serving from November 1939 to June 1940. When the Soviet Union presented an ultimatum to Lithuania demanding that it accept a Soviet garrison, President Antanas Smetona fled the country leaving Merkys as the acting president. Merkys ostensibly cooperated with the Soviets and handed over the power to Justas Paleckis, who formed the People's Government of Lithuania. When Merkys attempted to flee the country, he was captured and deported to the interior of Russia, where he died in 1955.
Merkys was born at , near Skapiškis. Educated in law, he served in the Russian Army during World War I (1914–18). In 1919, he served as the newly independent Lithuania's Minister of Defence before serving with the Lithuanian Army until his decommissioning in 1922. He then practised as a lawyer.
After the Klaipėda Revolt of 1923, Merkys became secretary to the Klaipėda Region Commissioner, Antanas Smetona. Following the 1926 Lithuanian coup d'état, he became Minister of Defence again until 1927, when he was made Governor of Klaipėda Region. In 1932, German demands prompted his removal as Governor and Merkys returned to practising law. He became Mayor of Kaunas in 1933 and served in this position until 1939. In 1936 was elected to the Fourth Seimas of Lithuania. On 17 November 1939 he became Prime Minister.
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