Coming from a family of clerics and clerical officials, Johan Vilhelm Snellman enrolled in the University in 1822. Initially he had intended to train for the ministry. Owing to financial difficulties he was forced to interrupt his studies on several occasions, but resolved to work towards a first degree in philosophy. And it is as a philosopher that he best remembered.

Snellman studied widely across a range of disciplines in the University: philosophy, history, literature and even natural sciences. His study years brought him into close contact with Finnish luminaries such as Johan Ludvig Runeberg, Elias Lönnrot and Fredrik Cygnaeus. They collaborated in the formation of the Lauantaiseura, or ‘the Saturday society’, regular soirées of students and young teachers. Up until 1837, Snellman was a key figure in leading the discussions.  A contemporary of similar stature, Zachris Topelius, characterised the contributors thus: "Runebergin tyyneen huumoriin, Snellmanin säälimättömään logiikkaan, Nervanderin purevaan ivaan ja Nordströmin kompapuheisiin, jotka olivat teräviä kuin silmäneulat." (‘Runeberg’s dry humour, Snellman’s remorseless logic, Nervander’s biting scorn and Nordström’s witty speeches, which were sharp as needles.’)

The main purpose of the Lauantaiseura was to promote Finnish culture and serve as advocates of all things Finnish. Its mouthpiece was Runeberg’s Helsingfors Morgonblad, although Snellman did not write for the paper. According to Emeritus Professor Matti Klinge, Snellman was the unofficial spiritual leader for the entire student body.

Snellman’s special area of knowledge in academic matters included philosophy, in particular the German philosopher Hegel’s ideas about statehood. He strove to disseminate a vision of Finnish nationhood, not least through his paper Saima in the years 1844-6.

In political life, Snellman served as a senator between 1863 and 1868 and attended several parliamentary sessions. Snellman was a Fennoman. As such his main political aim was to improve the status of the Finnish language vis-à-vis Swedish. Snellman’s governing idea was that the Finnish language and its official recognition was the only way the nation could flourish. In language policy terms, his greatest accomplishment was the passage of the 1863 kielireskripti, the  Language Decree granting the use of written Finnish parity with Swedish in all official and juridical matters. Moreover, Alexander’s imperial order decreed that within twenty years all government bodies will produce documentation in Finnish.

Snellman’s other great political achievement came in 1865 with a reform of the monetary system. This legislation decreed that the Finnish silver markka was to be the Grand Duchy’s only official currency, as a result of which Finland was able to secure fiscal autonomy.

Today Snellman is remembered above all as a practical advocate of Finnish national identity. He went on to lead the Fennoman movement, and since his death his name has lent a talismanic charge to a range of nationwide Finnish projects.

Sources:

• P. Rommi & M. Pohls, ”Poliittisen fennomanian synty ja nousu” (’The origins and rise of the political Fennoman movement’), in P. Tommila (ed.), Herää Suomi (‘Finland awakes’), Kuopio 1989.
• J. Mylly, Kansallinen projekti. Historiankirjoitus ja politiikka autonomisessa Suomessa, (’The national project. Historiography and political autonomy in Finland’) Turku 2002.
• Matti Klinge, ’Snellman, Johan Vilhelm’, National Biography of Finland online. Accessed May 11, 2015.
• Wikipedia, ’J. V. Snellman’. Accessed May 11, 2015.