Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics | |
---|---|
Prime Minister of Latvia | |
In office 19 June 1921 – 26 January 1923 |
|
President | Jānis Čakste |
Preceded by | Kārlis Ulmanis |
Succeeded by | Jānis Pauļuks |
In office 28 June 1923 – 26 January 1924 |
|
President | Jānis Čakste |
Preceded by | Jānis Pauļuks |
Succeeded by | Voldemārs Zāmuēls |
Foreign Minister of Latvia | |
In office 18 November 1918 – 26 January 1924 |
|
Prime Minister |
Kārlis Ulmanis Jānis Pauļuks Himself |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Ludvigs Sēja |
In office 18 December 1924 – 22 August 1925 |
|
Prime Minister | Hugo Celmiņš |
Preceded by | Ludvigs Sēja |
Succeeded by | Hugo Celmiņš |
Personal details | |
Born |
Durbe, Latvia (part of the Russian Empire) |
6 February 1887
Died | 22 August 1925 Sēme parish, Latvia |
(aged 38)
Resting place | Riga Forest cemetery |
Nationality | Latvian |
Political party | Latvian Farmers' Union |
Spouse(s) | Anna Meierovics (née Fielhold) |
Children | Helmuts, Ruta, Gunars |
Profession | Diplomat, Politician |
Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics (6 February [O.S. 24 January] 1887, Durbe – 22 August 1925, near Tukums) was a Latvian politician and diplomat who served as the first Foreign Minister of Latvia from its independence until 1924 and again from December of the same year until his death. He also served two terms as the Prime Minister of Latvia from June, 1921 to January, 1923 and from June 1923 to January, 1924. He was one of the founders of the Latvian Farmers' Union, one of Latvia's oldest political parties.
Meierovics was born into the family of a Jewish doctor and his Latvian wife Anna, who died in childbirth. His father became mentally ill and therefore young Meierovics grew up with his uncle's family in Sabile. He studied at the Riga Polytechnicum.
After 1911 Meierovics belonged to various Latvian organizations, notably the Riga Latvian Society. During World War I he worked in the Latvian Refugee Committee and the organizing committee of the Latvian Riflemen units. After the February Revolution he moved to Riga to work as a professional politician. On October 23, and again on November 11, 1918, as the representative of Latvian Provisional National Council, he received written confirmation that the United Kingdom acknowledged the de facto statehood of Latvia and National Council as its government. Meierovics became the first Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia on 19 November 1918, a day after the Republic of Latvia was proclaimed. He was a member of the Latvian Peoples Council, the Constitutional Assembly of Latvia and the 1st Saeima.