Joakim Puhk
Encyclopedia
Joakim Puhk was an Estonian businessman, economist
and Rotarian; a member of the International Chamber of Commerce
, and a member of the International Olympic Committee
from 1936 to 1942.
to Jaak Johann Puhk and Anna Luise Puhk as their third child and first son out of five yet to be born. Anna-Luise, his mother, was born at Imavere Manor in Viljandimaa as a daughter of gardener. His father, also from Viljandimaa was a member of a family with 18 children. Puhk attended to the Riga Commercial School from where he graduated in 1904. Being a leftist his participation in the 1905 Russian Revolution resulted 3 years of imprisonment for the revolutionary activities. Because Joakim Puhk was still a minor, his sentence was reduced to 2 years. After released from prison Puhk returned to his homeland Estonia where he engaged with his fathers company established in 1881 and renamed in 1913: Jaak Puhk and Sons Department Store. . On 27 July 1917, Joakim Puhk's father died and he, 29 years old at the time together with his younger brothers Eduard, Voldemar, Aleksander and Evald continued to run the business.
Besides been involved with the family business Puhk became the director of a factory Ilmarine, and member of the board of an insurance company Estonian Lloyd Ltd. After the February Revolution
Russia granted autonomy to Estonia, Puhk hold the chairman of the Food Office of the Autonomous Governorate of Estonia
in 1917–1918. During the German Occupation of Estonia in World War I, during 1918–1919, Puhk was nominated to an assistant of the Minister for Food.
After the end of German Occupation and beginning of Estonian war of independence Puhk became an economic expert consulting the Estonian government, participating at the Paris Peace Conference, 1919
, and in 1920 at the signing of the Tartu Peace Treaty
. Puhk was an elected member of the Estonian Constituent Assembly
that adopted the first Constitution of Republic of Estonia on 15 June 1920.
On 10 November 1925 Joakim Puhk was elected the chairman of the Board of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Economy and in 1925 became a member the International Chamber of Commerce
' World Council. He served as Honorary Consul for Lithuania
(1921–1927) and Finland
(1927–1940).
In 1921 Puhk married Anna Sinisoff and they had two daughters: Eva-Agne was born on 15 August 1927 and Anna Mirjam on 19 March 1933.
Joakim Puhk, one of the richest person in Estonia in the 1930s was an active sponsor of sports that resulted nomination for candidacy of membership for the International Olympic Committee. The submission for candidacy was supported by the Finnish
and Swedish Olympic Committee
s and Puhk became a member in July 1936.
After the Soviet Occupation of Estonia Joakim Puhk was arrested on 31 August 1940 and executed by the NKVD
on 14 September 1942.
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and Rotarian; a member of the International Chamber of Commerce
International Chamber of Commerce
The International Chamber of Commerce is the largest, most representative business organization in the world. Its hundreds of thousands of member companies in over 130 countries have interests spanning every sector of private enterprise....
, and a member of the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
from 1936 to 1942.
Biography
Joakim Puhk was born in ViljandiViljandi
Viljandi is a town and municipality in southern Estonia with a population of 19,150 . It is the capital of Viljandi County. The town was first mentioned in 1283, upon being granted its town charter by Wilhelm von Endorpe....
to Jaak Johann Puhk and Anna Luise Puhk as their third child and first son out of five yet to be born. Anna-Luise, his mother, was born at Imavere Manor in Viljandimaa as a daughter of gardener. His father, also from Viljandimaa was a member of a family with 18 children. Puhk attended to the Riga Commercial School from where he graduated in 1904. Being a leftist his participation in the 1905 Russian Revolution resulted 3 years of imprisonment for the revolutionary activities. Because Joakim Puhk was still a minor, his sentence was reduced to 2 years. After released from prison Puhk returned to his homeland Estonia where he engaged with his fathers company established in 1881 and renamed in 1913: Jaak Puhk and Sons Department Store. . On 27 July 1917, Joakim Puhk's father died and he, 29 years old at the time together with his younger brothers Eduard, Voldemar, Aleksander and Evald continued to run the business.
Besides been involved with the family business Puhk became the director of a factory Ilmarine, and member of the board of an insurance company Estonian Lloyd Ltd. After the February Revolution
February Revolution
The February Revolution of 1917 was the first of two revolutions in Russia in 1917. Centered around the then capital Petrograd in March . Its immediate result was the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, the end of the Romanov dynasty, and the end of the Russian Empire...
Russia granted autonomy to Estonia, Puhk hold the chairman of the Food Office of the Autonomous Governorate of Estonia
Autonomous Governorate of Estonia
The local autonomy in Estonia was established as a result of the Russian Revolution of 1917. For the duration of control by Imperial Russia, Estonia was divided between two governorates . The Governorate of Estonia in the north corresponded roughly to the area of Danish Estonia and the northern...
in 1917–1918. During the German Occupation of Estonia in World War I, during 1918–1919, Puhk was nominated to an assistant of the Minister for Food.
After the end of German Occupation and beginning of Estonian war of independence Puhk became an economic expert consulting the Estonian government, participating at the Paris Peace Conference, 1919
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
, and in 1920 at the signing of the Tartu Peace Treaty
Treaty of Tartu (Russian–Estonian)
Tartu Peace Treaty or Treaty of Tartu was a peace treaty between Estonia and Russian SFSR signed on February 2, 1920 ending the Estonian War of Independence. The terms of the treaty stated that "Russia unreservedly recognises" the independence of Republic of Estonia de jure and renounced in...
. Puhk was an elected member of the Estonian Constituent Assembly
Estonian Constituent Assembly
The Estonian Constituent Assembly was elected on 5-7 April 1919, called by the Estonian Provisional Government during the Estonian War of Independence. The Assembly was elected by proportional representation. Eligible voters included soldiers at the front...
that adopted the first Constitution of Republic of Estonia on 15 June 1920.
On 10 November 1925 Joakim Puhk was elected the chairman of the Board of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Economy and in 1925 became a member the International Chamber of Commerce
International Chamber of Commerce
The International Chamber of Commerce is the largest, most representative business organization in the world. Its hundreds of thousands of member companies in over 130 countries have interests spanning every sector of private enterprise....
' World Council. He served as Honorary Consul for Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
(1921–1927) and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
(1927–1940).
In 1921 Puhk married Anna Sinisoff and they had two daughters: Eva-Agne was born on 15 August 1927 and Anna Mirjam on 19 March 1933.
Joakim Puhk, one of the richest person in Estonia in the 1930s was an active sponsor of sports that resulted nomination for candidacy of membership for the International Olympic Committee. The submission for candidacy was supported by the Finnish
Finnish Olympic Committee
The Finnish Olympic Committee is the national Olympic committee in Finland for the Olympic Games movement. It is a non-profit organisation that selects teams, and raises funds to send Finnish competitors to Olympic events organised by the International Olympic Committee .- Presidents :* Reinhold...
and Swedish Olympic Committee
Swedish Olympic Committee
The Swedish Olympic Committee is the Swedish National Olympic Committee . The Swedish Olympic Committee organize the Swedish participation in the Olympics, choose the participants and run the "Elitprogrammet".The committee has 35 Olympic national federations members and 12 by the IOC national...
s and Puhk became a member in July 1936.
After the Soviet Occupation of Estonia Joakim Puhk was arrested on 31 August 1940 and executed by the NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
on 14 September 1942.