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Uno Lindelöf

Uno Lorenz Lindelöf
Born March 30, 1868. Died February 7, 1944, Helsinki

BA 1888, PhD 1890, Imperial Alexander University

Professor of English Philology 1921–36, Acting Professor 1937–38, University of Helsinki
Docent of Germanic philology 1892–1907, Extraordinary Professor of English Philology 1907–21, Imperial Alexander University
Latin teacher 1892–97, German teacher 1892–1902, Nya svenska läroverket (‘New Swedish Secondary School’)

Representative of the Nobility at the Diet 1897–1906
Member of Parliament 1909–14
Chair of the Education and Culture Committee in Parliament 1909–13
Helsinki City Councilperson 1902–36

Hon. Secretary of the Modern Language Society 1890–99,

Chair of the board of directors of the New Swedish Secondary School 1903–
Member of the Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters 1909
Member of the Matriculation Examination Board 1902–36

Commander in the Order of the White Rose of Finland 1929
State badge of honour for 40 years of service
German Iron Cross 2nd Class 1920

Photo: Museovirasto
Written by Lauri Lönnström
Translated by Joe McVeigh

The urban politician

Born and raised in Helsinki, Uno Lindelöf was an urbanite at heart, even though he enjoyed the nature of his summer place in Kuusisaari. Lindelöf lived on the coast in Hietalahti, Helsinki, with his brother Ernst Lindelöf, who was a professor of mathematics.

Uno Lindelöf took his first steps toward a career in politics when he worked as the Representative of the Nobility at the Diet in 1897–1906. After taking a break for a few years, he returned as a legislator in 1909 when he was elected to parliament as a representative from the Swedish People’s Party. In the same year, Lindelöf also began working in the local politics of his hometown by becoming a Helsinki City Councilperson, a position he held until 1911. His areas of specialisation were education and culture and these led to his election as the Chair of the Education and Culture Committee in Parliament. His broad education, as well as his tact, modesty and charm, made Lindelöf a natural politician and ensured he was placed in many positions of trust in politics. Lindelöf left politics in 1914 but he continued to work in the administration of the Swedish People’s Party for another four years.

The Finnish House of the Estates was finished in 1891 and functioned as a meeting place for the Diet of the Estates. Photo: Signe Brander, Helsinki City Museum. CC BY-ND 4.0.

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Uno Lindelöf

Uno Lorenz Lindelöf
Born March 30, 1868. Died February 7, 1944, Helsinki

BA 1888, PhD 1890, Imperial Alexander University

Professor of English Philology 1921–36, Acting Professor 1937–38, University of Helsinki
Docent of Germanic philology 1892–1907, Extraordinary Professor of English Philology 1907–21, Imperial Alexander University
Latin teacher 1892–97, German teacher 1892–1902, Nya svenska läroverket (‘New Swedish Secondary School’)

Representative of the Nobility at the Diet 1897–1906
Member of Parliament 1909–14
Chair of the Education and Culture Committee in Parliament 1909–13
Helsinki City Councilperson 1902–36

Hon. Secretary of the Modern Language Society 1890–99,

Chair of the board of directors of the New Swedish Secondary School 1903–
Member of the Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters 1909
Member of the Matriculation Examination Board 1902–36

Commander in the Order of the White Rose of Finland 1929
State badge of honour for 40 years of service
German Iron Cross 2nd Class 1920

Photo: Museovirasto
Written by Lauri Lönnström
Translated by Joe McVeigh

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