This is a list of notable

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

ns.

Architects

* Andres Alver (born 1953) *

Dmitri Bruns Dmitri Bruns (russian: Дмитрий Владимирович Брунс, ''Dmitry Vladimirovich Bruns''; lv, Dmitrijs Brūns; 11 January 1929 – 21 March 2020) was a Latvia-born Soviet and Estonian architect and architecture theorist of Rus ...

(1929–2020) * Karl Burman (1882–1965) * Eugen Habermann (1884–1944) *

Georg Hellat Georg Hellat (3 March 1870, Puka, Governorate of Livonia – 28 August 1943, Tallinn, Generalbezirk Estland) was an Estonian architect. His most known masterpiece is the building of the Estonian Students' Society The Estonian Students' So ...

(1870–1943) *

Otto Pius Hippius Otto Pius Hippius (, Saint Petersburg — , Saint Petersburg) was a Baltic German architect, particularly noted for several buildings in present-day Estonia. Life and works Otto Hippius was born to the painter and lithographer, Gustav Adolf Hi ...

(1826–1883) * Erich Jacoby (1885–1941) * Herbert Johanson (1884–1964) *

Peep Jänes Peep Jänes (born 26 December 1936 in Rakvere, Estonia) is an Estonian architect An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with ...

(born 1936) * Louis I. Kahn (1901–1974) *

Raine Karp Raine Karp (born 23 July 1939) is an Estonian architect. Raine Karp was born in Tallinn. He studied construction at the Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn Polytechnic Institute (TPI) for two years (1957-1959) and went to study architecture ...

(born 1939) *

Alar Kotli Alar Kotli (27 August 1904 in Väike-Maarja - 4 October 1963 in Tallinn) was an Estonian architect. He studied sculpture at the art school ''Pallas'' in Tartu during 1922-1923 and mathematics at the University of Tartu. He graduated from the Univ ...

(1904–1963) *

Edgar-Johan Kuusik Edgar Johan Kuusik (22 February 1888 in Valgjärve, Estonia – 3 August 1974 in Tallinn Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, ...

(1888–1974) * Ernst Gustav Kühnert (1885–1961) *

Vilen Künnapu Vilen Künnapu (born 30 June 1948) is one of the most important Estonian architects of the last three decades, among the first postmodernist theoreticians and architects in the 1970s. He has worked on various buildings in Estonia and abroad.

(born 1948) *

Leonhard Lapin Leonhard Lapin (29 December 1947 – 28 February 2022), also known under the pseudonym Albert Trapeež, was an Estonian architect, artist, architecture historian, and poet. Biography Emeritus Professor at Estonian Academy of Arts, Lapin was a ...

(born 1947) * Elmar Lohk (1901–1963) * Ülar Mark (born 1968) *

Margit Mutso Margit Mutso (born 11 February 1966) is an Estonian architect. Margit Mutso was born in Tallinn. She studied in the State Art Institute of the Estonian SSR (today's Estonian Academy of Arts) in the department of architecture. She graduated fr ...

(born 1966) * Robert Natus (1890–1950) *

Uno Prii Uno Prii (February 28, 1924 – November 27, 2000) was an Estonian-born Canadian architect. He designed approximately 250 buildings, many in Toronto, but also around southern Ontario and the United States. Some of his best-known works are apartme ...

(1924–2000) *

Raivo Puusepp Raivo Puusepp (born 21 March 1960) is an Estonian architect. His notable works include: *Main building of SEB in Tallinn Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the G ...

(born 1960) *

Jacques Rosenbaum Jacques Rosenbaum (full name: Jacques Gustav-Adolf Rosenbaum-Ehrenbush) (1 July 1878 in Haapsalu, Estonia, Russian Empire – 6 January 1944 in Berlin, Germany) was an Estonian architect of Baltic German descent. Between 1904–07 he served as muni ...

(1878–1943) * Eugen Sacharias (1906–2002) *

Olev Siinmaa Olev Siinmaa (November 12, 1881 – March 29, 1948), was an Estonian architect who is perhaps best recalled for his work in the style coined "Pärnu Resort Functionalism". Olev Siinmaa was born Oskar Siimann in Pärnu into a joinery shop ow ...

(1881–1948) *

Elmar Tampõld Elmar Tampõld (August 3, 1920
– March 7, 2013) was an

Hardo Aasmäe (1951–2014), geographer, politician, encyclopedist *

Andrus Ansip Andrus Ansip (; born 1 October 1956) is an Estonian politician, a member of the European Parliament, the former European Commissioner for Digital Single Market and Vice President of the European Commission, in office from 2014 until 2019. Previo ...

(born 1956), politician * Robert Antropov, politician, was a member of XI Riigikogu *

Jaan Anvelt Jaan Anvelt (also known by the pseudonyms Eessaare Aadu, Jaan Holm, Jaan Hulmu, Kaarel Maatamees, Onkel Kaak; in Russian or ; 18 April 1884 – 11 December 1937), was an Estonian Bolshevik revolutionary and writer. He served the Russian SFS ...

(1884–1937), politician *

Ado Birk Ado Birk (; also known as ''Aadu Birk'', ''Aado Birk'' or ''Avdei Birk''; – 2 February 1942), was an Estonian politician who was the Estonian Prime Minister for three days, from 28 July 1920 to 30 July 1920. Biography Ado Birk was born i ...

(1883–1942), politician *

Ivi Eenmaa Ivi Eenmaa (born 2 June 1943) is an Estonian politician. She was the head of the Estonian National Library from 1993 to 1997. After this, she entered politics, becoming a member of the now defunct Estonian Coalition Party. From 1997 to 1999, she ...

(born 1943), librarian and politician *

Kaarel Eenpalu Kaarel Eenpalu (until 1935 Karl August Einbund) (, in Paju talu, Vesneri Parish (now Tartu Parish), Kreis Dorpat, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire – 27 January 1942, in Kirov Oblast, Russian SFSR, USSR) was an Estonian journalist, ...

(Karl Einbund, 1888–1942), politician * Ene Ergma (born 1944), politician * Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie (1622–1686), politician (Sweden) * Karoli Hindriks (born 1983), entrepreneur *

Toomas Hendrik Ilves Toomas Hendrik Ilves (; born 26 December 1953) is an Estonian politician who served as the fourth president of Estonia from 2006 until 2016. Ilves worked as a diplomat and journalist, and he was the leader of the Social Democratic Party in the ...

(born 1953), journalist, politician, president * Mati Ilisson, Estonian politician, was a member of VIII Riigikogu *

Ernst Jaakson Ernst Rudolf Jaakson (11 August 1905, Riga, Livonia (then Russian Empire) – 4 September 1998, New York, United States) was an Estonian diplomat whose contribution was to maintain Estonia's legal continuity with his uninterrupted diplomatic servi ...

(1905–1998), diplomat * Steve Jurvetson (born 1967), businessman (United States) *

Siim Kallas Siim Kallas (; born 2 October 1948) is an Estonian politician, former Prime Minister of Estonia, and former European Commissioner. He served as the European Commissioner for Transport between 2010 and 2014. Before that he was the European Commi ...

(born 1948), politician *

Carmen Kass Carmen Kass (born 14 September 1978) is an Estonian model and former political candidate. She has worked as the face of brands such as Chanel, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Valentino, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior, Givenchy, ...

(born 1978), supermodel, chess players, businesswoman, film actress and politician. *

Tunne Kelam Tunne-Väldo Kelam (born 10 July 1936) is an Estonian politician and former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Estonia. He is a member of the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union, part of the European People's Party. Early life and educa ...

(born 1936), politician *

Tõnis Kint Tõnis Kint ( – 5 January 1991) was an Estonian politician. He served as "Prime Minister in duties of the President" (in other words, Estonian head of state in exile) from 23 December 1970 to 1 March 1990. From 7 April 1938 member of the Cham ...

(1896–1991), politician *

Riina Kionka Riina Ruth Kionka (born 29 December 1960) is an American-born Estonian diplomat who is the EU Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Early life and education Born on 29 December 1960 in Detroit, Michigan, Kionka is the daughter of an Est ...

(born 1960), diplomat *

Mihkel Klaassen Mihkel Klaassen (24 February 1880 – 7 March 1952) was a justice of the Supreme Court of Estonia since 1924. Klaassen was a member of the that decided the Soviet-era appointment of Johannes Vares as Prime Minister by Konstantin Päts had been ...

(1880–1952), State judge *

August Koern August Koern (27 April 1900 in Uue-Võidu, Viljandi County – 11 January 1989 in Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last q ...

(1900–1989), politician and diplomat *

Eerik-Niiles Kross Eerik-Niiles Kross (born 8 September 1967) is an Estonian politician, diplomat, former chief of intelligence and entrepreneur. He is a member of parliament (Riigikogu). During the 1980s, Kross was a prominent figure in the anti-Soviet non-violen ...

(born 1967), diplomat and politician *

Mart Laar Mart Laar (born 22 April 1960) is an Estonian politician and historian. He served as the Prime Minister of Estonia from 1992 to 1994 and from 1999 to 2002. Laar is credited with having helped bring about Estonia's rapid economic development dur ...

(born 1960), politician, historian *

Rein Lang Rein Lang (born 4 July 1957) is an Estonian politician, a member of the Estonian Reform Party since 1995, and a diplomat. He was the Minister of Culture in Andrus Ansip's third cabinet until his resignation. Personal life Lang was born at Tar ...

(born 1957), journalist, businessman, politician *

Robert Lepikson Robert Lepikson (14 June 1952 – 1 July 2006) was an Estonian politician, businessman and rally driver/co-driver. As a rally driver, he was the Estonian champion three times, winner of the Baltic Cup and was the head of the Estonian motospo ...

(1952–2006), businessman, politician *

Peeter Lepp Peeter Lepp (born 1 July 1943) is an Estonian politician. From 1993 to 2002, he was a member of the Estonian Coalition Party. After its dissolution, he joined the Estonian Reform Party. He was a member of the Tallinn town council from 1996 to 19 ...

(born 1943), politician *

Jürgen Ligi Jürgen Ligi (born 16 July 1959) is an Estonian politician, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a member and the Vice-Chairman of the liberal Reform Party. He was Minister of Education and Research in Taavi Rõivas' cabinet from 9 April 2015 ...

(born 1959), politician *

Elmar Lipping Elmar Lipping (7 March 1906 in Riga – 5 January 1994 in New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2 ...

(1906–1994), politician *

Ott Lumi Ott Lumi (born 1 December 1978 in Tallinn) is an Estonian politician. He was a member of XI Riigikogu XI Riigikogu was the eleventh legislature of Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu The Riigikogu (; from Estonian ''riigi-'', of the state, and ' ...

(born 1978), politician * Hjalmar Mäe (1901–1978), politician * Tiit Mae (born 1960), politician *

Linnart Mäll Linnart Mäll (7 June 1938 – 14 February 2010) was an Estonian historian, orientalist, translator and politician. Biography Born in Tallinn, Estonia, Mäll graduated from the University of Tartu in 1962 with a major in general history. He ...

(1938–2010), orientalist, politician *

Harry Männil Harry Männil (May 17, 1920 – January 11, 2010), also known as Harry Mannil Laul, was an Estonian businessman, art collector, and cultural benefactor in several countries. Männil was born in Tallinn, Estonia. As a result of World War II he m ...

(1920–2010), businessman, art collector *

Heinrich Mark Heinrich Mark (1 October 1911 – 2 August 2004) was an Estonian politician and Prime Minister of the Estonian Government in Exile. He was Prime Minister in duties of the President of the Republic of Estonia from 1 March 1990 to 6 October 1992, ...

(1911–2004), politician *

Jaan Manitski Jaan Manitski (born 7 March 1942 in Viinistu) is an Estonian businessman, politician and art collector. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia in 1992. Biography Manistki was born in Viinistu, on the coast of the Gulf of Finland ...

(born 1942), businessman, politician *

Maret Maripuu Maret Maripuu (born 16 July 1974 in Tallinn) is an Estonian politician, a member of the Reform Party. From April 2007 until February 2009 she served as Minister of Social Affairs. Previously, she was a member of the Riigikogu The Riig ...

(born 1974), politician * Lennart Meri (1929–2006), writer, filmmaker, president *

Jüri Mõis Jüri Mõis (born 25 October 1956 in Pärnu) is an Estonian politician and businessman, who was mayor of Tallinn between November 1999 and June 2001, and who was the Minister of the Interior An interior minister (sometimes called a minister ...

(born 1956), businessman, politician * Aarni Neuvonen (20th century), employment fraudster *

Tiit Niilo Tiit Niilo (born 30 May 1962) is an Estonian politician. He was a member of X Riigikogu. Early life Niilo was born in Võru and graduated from the Estonian University of Life Sciences in 1986 with a degree in electrical engineering. Career Niilo ...

(born 1962), politician *

Ülo Nugis Ülo Nugis (28 April 1944 – 18 November 2011) was an Estonian politician and economist. As Speaker of the Supreme Council of Estonia on 20 August 1991, he presided over the Supreme Council's historic session when it voted for the restoration o ...

(1944–2011), politician, economist *

Kristiina Ojuland Kristiina Ojuland (born 17 December 1966 in Kohtla-Järve, Estonia) is an Estonian politician. She was the Foreign Minister of Estonia from 2002 through 2005. She was a member of the Estonian Reform Party from 1995 till 5 June 2013 and from 2009 ...

(born 1966), politician *

Lembit Öpik Lembit Öpik (, ; born 2 March 1965) is a former British politician. A former member of the Liberal Democrats, he served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of Montgomeryshire in Wales from 1997 until he lost his seat at the ...

(born 1965), politician (United Kingdom) * Tiina Oraste (born 1962), politician * Rein Otsason (1931–2004), economist, businessman *

Siiri Oviir Siiri Oviir (born 3 November 1947) is an Estonian politician and Member of the European Parliament. Oviir was born in Tallinn. As an MEP, she belonged to the Estonian Centre Party until she decided to leave on 9 April 2012. Oviir is married to ...

(born 1947), politician * Ivari Padar (born 1965), politician *

Tõnis Palts Tõnis Palts (born 29 March 1953, in Kuressaare) is an Estonian politician and former mayor of Tallinn and Minister of Finance A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic po ...

(born 1953), politician, businessman *''Sir''

Arvi Parbo Sir Arvi Hillar Parbo (10 February 1926 – 1 May 2019) was a business executive who was concurrently chairman of three of Australia's largest companies, Alcoa World Alumina & Chemicals, Munich Re, and Zurich Australian Insurance. Early lif ...

(1926–2019), businessman (Australia) *

Juhan Parts Juhan Parts (born 27 August 1966) is an Estonian politician who was Prime Minister of Estonia from 2003 to 2005 and Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications from 2007 to 2014. Juhan Parts is a member of Isamaa party. Education Born in T ...

(born 1966), politician * Keit Pentus (born 1976), politician *

Hanno Pevkur Hanno Pevkur (born 2 April 1977) is an Estonian politician who is currently the Minister of Defence. He is the former chairman of the Estonian Reform Party. He has served as the Minister of Social Affairs from 2009 to 2012, as the Minister of ...

(born 1977), politician * Jüri Pihl (born 1954), politician *

Konstantin Päts Konstantin Päts (; – 18 January 1956) was an Estonian statesman and the country's president in 1938–1940. Päts was one of the most influential politicians of the independent democratic Republic of Estonia, and during the two decades prior ...

(1874–1956), journalist, politician, former president *

Jaan Poska Jaan Poska VR III/1 (; , Laiusevälja, Kreis Dorpat, Governorate of Livonia – 7 March 1920, Tallinn, Estonia) was an Estonian barrister and politician. Early life Poska was born the fifth of 12 children of a Russian Orthodox parish school ...

(1866–1920), diplomat, politician * Nikolai Põdramägi (born 1944), politician, was a member of XI Riigikogu * Valdo Randpere (born 1958), businessman, musician * August Rei (1886–1963), politician, diplomat *

Alfred Rosenberg Alfred Ernst Rosenberg ( – 16 October 1946) was a Baltic German Nazi theorist and ideologue. Rosenberg was first introduced to Adolf Hitler by Dietrich Eckart and he held several important posts in the Nazi government. He was the head o ...

(1893–1946), politician, ideologist (Germany) * Arno Rossman (born 1954), politician *

Arnold Rüütel Arnold Rüütel OIH () (born 10 May 1928) is an Estonian politician and agricultural scientist. He has served as the last chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR from 8 April 1983 to 29 March 1990, Chairman of the Su ...

(born 1928), agricultural manager, politician, president * Edgar V. Saks (1910–1984), statesman, historian and author * Erik Salumäe (born 1970), politician *

Edgar Savisaar Edgar Savisaar (31 May 1950 – 29 December 2022) was an Estonian politician, one of the founding members of Popular Front of Estonia and the Centre Party. He served as the acting Prime Minister of Estonia, Minister of the Interior, Ministe ...

(born 1950), politician *

Johannes Sikkar Johannes Sikkar (October 15, 1897 – August 22, 1960) was the first head of the Estonian government in exile as Acting Prime Minister (January 12, 1953 – January 1, 1962). Biography Sikkar was born in Kõnnu, Tartu County. Sikkar served in t ...

(1897–1960), politician *

Artur Sirk Artur Sirk (25 September 1900 in Pruuna, Lehtse Parish (now Tapa Parish), Kreis Jerwen, Governorate of Estonia, Russian Empire – 2 August 1937 in Echternach, Luxembourg) was an Estonian political and military figure. A veteran of the country ...

(1900–1937), officer, lawyer, politician *

Otto Strandman Otto August Strandman ( – 5 February 1941) was an Estonian politician, who served as prime minister (1919) and State Elder of Estonia (1929–1931). He was one of the leaders of the centre-left Estonian Labour Party, that saw its biggest supp ...

(1875–1941), politician *

Rein Taagepera Rein Taagepera (born 28 February 1933) is an Estonian political scientist and former politician. Education Born in Tartu, Estonia, Taagepera fled from occupied Estonia in 1944. Taagepera graduated from high school in Marrakech, Morocco and the ...

(born 1933), political scientist, politician * Jaak Tamm (1950–1999), politician * Alexei Tammet-Romanov (died 1977), Romanov impostor * Andres Tarand (born 1940), politician *

Indrek Tarand Indrek Tarand (born 3 February 1964) is an Estonian politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Estonia. He is an Independent politician, but a member of the European Green Party. Tarand has served as an advisor to the Prime Mini ...

(born 1964), politician, historian, journalist *

Enn Tarto Enn Tarto (25 September 1938 – 18 July 2021) was an Estonian politician who was a leading dissident during the Soviet occupation of Estonia. He was imprisoned from 1956 to 1960, 1962 to 1967, and again from 1983 to 1988 for anti-Soviet activit ...

(1938–2021), dissident, politician * Otto Tief (1889–1976), military officer, politician * Anti Tammeoks (born 1975), politician *

Jaan Tõnisson Jaan Tõnisson (; , – 1941?) was an Estonian statesman, serving as the Prime Minister of Estonia twice during 1919 to 1920, as State Elder (head of state and government) from 1927 to 1928 and in 1933, and as Foreign Minister of Estonia from ...

(1868–1941?), journalist, politician * Ülo Tulik (born 1957), politician *

Anton Uesson Anton Uesson (12 January 1879 – 13 April 1942)Mati Unt and Eric Dickens: ''Brecht at Night''. p. 161. Dalkey Archive Pr; First English Translation edition 14 July 2009. was an Estonian politician and engineer. Early life and career Born in ...

(1879–1942), politician, engineer *

Jüri Uluots Jüri Uluots (13 January 1890 – 9 January 1945) was an Estonian prime minister, journalist, prominent attorney and distinguished Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Tartu. Early life Uluots was born in Kirbla Paris ...

(1890–1945), lawyer, politician * Sulev Vare (born 1962), politician * Priit Vilba (born 1953), businessman, politician *

Jüri Vilms Jüri Vilms (, Arkma, Kabala Parish (now Türi Parish), Kreis Fellin, Governorate of Livonia – May 2, 1918, Hauho near Hämeenlinna, Finland, unconfirmed info) was a member of the Estonian Salvation Committee and the first Deputy Prime Min ...

(1889–1918), lawyer, politician * Toomas Vilosius (born 1951), physician, politician * Jüri Võigemast, politician *

Tiit Vähi Tiit Vähi (born 10 January 1947) is an Estonian politician who was Prime Minister of Estonia from 1995 to 1997. He was also acting Prime Minister for several months during 1992 under the transitional government. Life and career Born in Kaagjä ...

(born 1947), businessman, politician * Aleksander Warma (1890–1970), navy officer, politician

Education and science

* Julius Aamisepp (1883–1950), agricultural scientist *

Johannes Aavik Johannes Aavik ( in Randvere, Saaremaa Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring . The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island and west of Muhu island, and belongs to the West E ...

(1880–1973), linguist * Jüri Allik (born 1949), psychologist *

Paul Ariste Paul Ariste (3 February 1905 – 2 February 1990) was an Estonian linguist renowned for his studies of the Finno-Ugric languages (especially Estonian and Votic), Yiddish and Baltic Romani language. He was born as Paul Berg, in Rääbise, V� ...

(1905–1990), linguist *

Karl Ernst von Baer Karl Ernst Ritter von Baer Edler von Huthorn ( – ) was a Baltic German scientist and explorer. Baer was a naturalist, biologist, geologist, meteorologist, geographer, and is considered a, or the, founding father of embryology. He was ...

(1792–1876), biologist (ethnic German) * Girsh Blumberg (born 1959), American - Estonian experimental physicist *

Karl Ernst Claus Karl Ernst Claus (also Karl Klaus or Carl Claus, russian: Карл Ка́рлович Кла́ус, 22 January 1796 – 24 March 1864) was a German-Russian chemist and naturalist of Baltic German origin. Claus was a professor at Kazan State ...

(1796–1864), chemist (ethnic German) *

Georg Dehio Georg Gottfried Julius Dehio (22 November 1850 in Reval (now Tallinn), Governorate of Estonia, Russian Empire – 21 March 1932 in Tübingen), was a Baltic German art historian. In 1900, Dehio started the "''Handbuch der deutschen Kunstgesch ...

(1850–1932), art historian (ethnic German) *

Jaan Einasto Jaan Einasto (born 23 February 1929) is an Estonian astrophysicist and one of the discoverers of the large-scale structure of the Universe. Born Jaan Eisenschmidt in Tartu, the name "Einasto" is an anagram of "Estonia" (it was chosen by his p ...

(born 1929), astrophysicist * Johann Friedrich Eschscholtz (1793–1831), entomologist (ethnic German) * Bengt Gottfried Forselius (c. 1660–1688), founder of public education *

Johannes Hint Johannes Rudolph Hint (20 September 1914 – died 5 September 1985) was an Estonian scientist and the only person to create and successfully run a limited company under the communist planned economy of the Soviet Union. With his company, Dessi ...

(1914–1985), physicist, inventor *

Jakob Hurt Jakob Hurt ( in Himmaste – in St Petersburg) was a notable Estonian folklorist, theologian, and linguist. With respect to the last, he is perhaps best known for his dissertation on "pure" -ne stem nouns ("Die estnischen Nomina auf -ne purum ...

(1839–1906), linguist, collector of folklore * Andres Kasekamp (born 1966), historian *

Rainer Kattel Rainer Kattel (born 20 March 1974) is an Estonian academic and science administrator. He is Professor of Innovation and Public Governance at Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, UCL, and Research Professor and Chair of Innovation Polic ...

(born 1974), innovation scholar, political philosopher *

Paul Kogerman Paul Nikolai Kogerman ( in Tallinn – 27 July 1951 in Tallinn) was an Estonian chemist and founder of modern research in oil shale. Paul Kogerman was born into a family of gas factory worker (and former sailor). He went to an elementary school ...

(1891–1951), chemist *

Wolfgang Köhler Wolfgang Köhler (21 January 1887 – 11 June 1967) was a German psychologist and phenomenologist who, like Max Wertheimer and Kurt Koffka, contributed to the creation of Gestalt psychology. During the Nazi regime in Germany, he prote ...

(1887–1967), psychologist (ethnic German) * Nikolai Köstner (1889–1959), economist, politician *

Eerik Kumari Eerik Kumari born Erik Mathias Sits (7 March 1912 – 8 January 1984) was a biologist, and pioneer of ornithology and nature conservation in Estonia. He was born in Kirbla, Lihula Parish. He was a director of the Institute of Zoology and Botan ...

(1912–1984), ornithologist * Helga Kurm (1920–2011), dean of the Tartu State University Pedagogical Division *

Heinrich Lenz Heinrich Friedrich Emil Lenz (; ; also Emil Khristianovich Lenz, russian: Эмилий Христианович Ленц; 12 February 1804 – 10 February 1865), usually cited as Emil Lenz or Heinrich Lenz in some countries, was a Russian physic ...

(1804–1865), physicist (ethnic German) *

Elmar Leppik Elmar Emil Leppik, earlier Lepik (1898–1978) was an Estonian mycologist and theoretical biologist. He established a mycological herbarium and library at the University of Tartu. His birth date in 1898 has been given variously as 3 or 4 Octo ...

(1898–1978), biologist * Otto Liiv (1905–1942), historian, archivist * Endel Lippmaa (1930–2015), chemist, physicist, politician *

Mihhail Lotman Mihhail Lotman (born September 2, 1952 in Leningrad) is an Estonian literature researcher and politician, son of Juri Lotman and Zara Mints. Mihhail Lotman's research fields include general semiotics and semiotics of culture as well as text th ...

(born 1952), semiotician (Jewish) *

Juri Lotman Juri Lotman (russian: Ю́рий Миха́йлович Ло́тман; 28 February 1922 – 28 October 1993) was a prominent Russian-Estonian literary scholar, semiotician, and historian of Russian culture, who worked at the University of Tart ...

(1922–1993), semiotician (Jewish) * Richard Karlovich Maack (1825–1886), geographer, botanist, Siberian explorer, educator * Sulev Mäeltsemees (born 1947), public administration theorist *

Friedrich Martens Friedrich Fromhold Martens, or Friedrich Fromhold von Martens,, french: Frédéric Frommhold (de) Martens ( – ) was a diplomat and jurist in service of the Russian Empire who made important contributions to the science of international law. H ...

(1845–1909), diplomat, international lawyer * Viktor Masing (1925–2001), ecologist * Harri Moora (1900–1968), archaeologist *

Ragnar Nurkse Ragnar Wilhelm Nurkse (, Käru, Estonia (then Russian Empire) – 6 May 1959, Mont Pèlerin, Switzerland) was an Estonian-American economist and policy maker mainly in the fields of international finance and economic development. He is cons ...

(1907–1959), economist *

Ernst Öpik Ernst Julius Öpik ( – 10 September 1985) was an Estonian astronomer and astrophysicist who spent the second half of his career (1948–1981) at the Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland. Education Öpik was born in Kunda, Lääne-Viru, Go ...

(1893–1985), astronomer *

Jaak Panksepp Jaak Panksepp (June 5, 1943 – April 18, 2017) was an Estonian-American neuroscientist and psychobiologist who coined the term " affective neuroscience", the name for the field that studies the neural mechanisms of emotion. He was the Baily End ...

(born 1943), psychologist, ethologist, neuroscientist *

Erast Parmasto Erast Parmasto (28 October 1928 – 24 April 2012) was a noted Estonian mycologist, bioscientist and botanist and onetime director of the Estonian Institute of Zoology and Botany. Parmasto was born in Nõmme. He became a member of the Estonian I ...

(1928–2012), mycologist *

Georg Friedrich Parrot Georg Friedrich Parrot (15 July 1767 – 8 July 1852) was a German scientist, the first rector of the Imperial University of Dorpat (today Tartu, Estonia) in what was then the Governorate of Livonia of the Russian Empire. Education Georges-Fr ...

(1767–1852) * Johann Friedrich Parrot (1791–1841), physician, explorer * Jaan Puhvel (born 1932), linguist * Ludvig Puusepp (1875–1942), medical scientist, neurosurgeon *

Georg Wilhelm Richmann Georg Wilhelm Richmann () (22 July 1711 – 6 August 1753), (Old Style: 11 July 1711 – 26 July 1753) was a Russian Imperial physicist of Baltic German descent. Richmann did pioneering work on electricity, atmospheric electricity, and calorimetr ...

(1711–1753), physicist * Hillar M. Rootare (1928–2008), chemist * Mart Saarma (born 1949), molecular biologist * Thomas Seebeck (1770–1831), physicist *

Otto Wilhelm von Struve Otto Wilhelm von Struve (May 7, 1819 (Julian calendar: April 25) – April 14, 1905) was a Russian astronomer of Baltic German origins. In Russian, his name is normally given as Otto Vasil'evich Struve (Отто Васильевич Струв ...

(1819–1905), astronomer (ethnic German) * Svante Pääbo (born 1955), paleogeneticist (Sweden, Germany) *

Eduard von Toll Eduard Gustav Freiherr von Toll (russian: Эдуа́рд Васи́льевич Толль, translit=Eduárd Vasíl'evič Toll'; 1902), better known in Russia as Eduard Vasilyevich Toll and often referred to as Baron von Toll, was a Russian ge ...

(1858–1902?), geologist, Arctic explorer *

Endel Tulving Endel Tulving (born May 26, 1927) is an Estonian-born Canadian experimental psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist. In his research on human memory he proposed the distinction between semantic and episodic memory. Tulving is a professor emerit ...

(born 1927), psychologist *

Jakob von Uexküll Jakob may refer to: People * Jakob (given name), including a list of people with the name * Jakob (surname), including a list of people with the name Other * Jakob (band), a New Zealand band, and the title of their 1999 EP * Max Jakob Memorial Aw ...

(1864–1944), biologist, semiotician (ethnic German) * Lauri Vaska (born 1925), chemist (USA) *

Mihkel Veske Mihkel Veske ( – ) was an Estonian poet and linguist.Henno Jänes, ''Geschichte der estnischen Literatur'', p48. Life Mihkel Veske was born in Veske farm, Holstre Parish (now in Metsla village, Viljandi Parish), Viljandi County in norther ...

(1843–1890), linguist, poet *

Gustav Vilbaste Gustav Vilbaste (until 1935 Gustav Vilberg; 3 September 1885 in Haavakannu, Kodasoo Parish – 21 February 1967 in Tallinn) was an Estonian botanist, publicist and conservationist. He wrote the first Estonian-language keybooks on Estonian flo ...

(1885–1967), botanist *

Edgar de Wahl Edgar Alexei Robert von Wahl or de Wahl (23 August 1867 – 9 March 1948) was a Baltic German teacher, mathematician and linguist. He is most famous for being the creator of Interlingue (known as Occidental throughout his life), a naturalist ...

(Edgar von Wahl, 1867–1948), teacher, creator of

Interlingue Interlingue (; ISO 639 ''ie'', ''ile''), originally Occidental (), is an international auxiliary language created in 1922 and renamed in 1949. Its creator, Edgar de Wahl, sought to achieve maximal grammatical regularity and natural character. ...

(''Occidental'' until 1949)

Literature and journalism

Artur Adson Artur Adson ( – 5 January 1977) was an Estonian poet, writer and theatre critic.Don Rubin, Peter Nagy, Philippe Rouyer, ''World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Europe'', Taylor & Francis, 1995, , p248 Early years Artur Adson (born Karl ...

(1889–1977), poet * Artur Alliksaar (1923–1966), poet *

Betti Alver Elisabet "Betti" Alver ( in Jõgeva – 19 June 1989 in Tartu), was one of Estonia's most notable poets. She was among the first generation to be educated in schools of an independent Estonia. She went to grammar school in Tartu. Writing S ...

(1906–1989), poet * Elise Aun (1863–1932), poet * Johannes Barbarus (1890–1946), poet *

Nikolai Baturin Nikolai Baturin (5 August 1936 – 16 May 2019) was an Estonian award-winning novelist and playwright. Biography and career Baturin was born in Arumetsa village, Suislepa Parish (now Maltsa village, Viljandi Parish), Viljandi County. His fath ...

(1936–2019), writer * Aimée Beekman (born 1933), writer *

Vladimir Beekman Vladimir Beekman (23 August 1929 – 3 October 2009) was an Estonian writer, poet and translator. Early life and education After completing his primary education, he attended the Tallinn University of Technology and graduated in 1953 with a degre ...

(1929–2009), poet, novelist, translator *

Eduard Bornhöhe Eduard Bornhöhe (pen name); born Eduard Brunberg (, in Kullaaru, Rakvere Parish, Kreis Wierland – 17 November 1923, in Tallinn), was an Estonian writer. Bornhöhe is generally considered a pioneer of the genre of the Estonian historical nov ...

(1862–1923), writer *

Ernst Enno Ernst Enno ( in Valguta – 7 March 1934 in Haapsalu) was an Estonian poet and writer.Aleksis Rubulis, ''Baltic Literature: a Survey of Finnish, Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian Literatures'', University of Notre Dame Press, 1970, p79 Life E ...

(1875–1934), poet *

Friedrich Robert Faehlmann Friedrich Robert Faehlmann (Fählmann) (31 December 1798 in Ao Manor, Kreis Jerwen – 22 April 1850 in Tartu) was an Estonian writer, medical doctor and philologist active in Livonia, Russian Empire. He was a co-founder of the Learned Eston ...

(1798–1850), writer, physician * August Gailit (1891–1960), writer *

Ado Grenzstein Ado Grenzstein, pseudonym A. Piirikivi (5 February 1849 – 20 April 1916) was an Estonian journalist, writer and teacher, brother of . In 1881 he founded the '' Olevik'' newspaper, which become one of the most important Estonian newspapers of the ...

(1849–1916), journalist *

Lehte Hainsalu Lehte Hainsalu (married name Lehte Sööt; born 31 October 1938, Haaslava Parish, Tartu County) is an Estonian writer, poet and politician. In 1961 she graduated from Tartu State University, studied Estonian philology. After graduation, she work ...

(born 1938), poet, novelist, children's author * Indrek Hargla (born 1970), writer, screenwriter * Sass Henno (born 1982), writer * Helen Hindpere, writer * August Wilhelm Hupel (1737–1819), ecclesiastic writer, ethnologist * Ivar Ivask (1927–1992), literary scholar, critic, poet *

Carl Robert Jakobson Carl Robert Jakobson ( – ) was an Estonian writer, politician and teacher active in the Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire. He was one of the most important persons of the Estonian national awakening in the second half of the 19th centur ...

(1841–1882), journalist, political activist *

Johann Voldemar Jannsen Johann Voldemar Jannsen ( in Vändra, Kreis Pernau, Livonia, Russian Empire – , in Tartu) was an Estonian journalist and poet active in Livonia. He wrote the words of the patriotic song "Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm", which later became the ...

(1819–1890), journalist, political activist *

Fred Jüssi Fred Jüssi (born January 29, 1935) is an Estonian biologist, nature writer and photographer. Jüssi was born in Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, where his father worked for a Venezuelan oil company. His family returned to Estonia and settled in Tal ...

(born 1935), journalist, champion of wildlife *

Ain Kaalep Ain Kaalep (4 June 1926 – 9 June 2020) was an Estonian poet, playwright, literary critic and translator. Biography and career Kaalep was born in Tartu. He studied at the Hugo Treffner Gymnasium and at the University of Tartu, from which he gr ...

(1926–2020), poet * Bernard Kangro (1910–1994), poet, writer, journalist *

Jaan Kaplinski Jaan Kaplinski (22 January 1941 – 8 August 2021 ) was an Estonian poet, philosopher, politician, and culture critic, known for his focus on global issues and support for left-wing/ liberal thinking. He was influenced by Eastern philosophical s ...

(1941–2021), writer, journalist, politician * Doris Kareva (born 1958), poet * Kaur Kender (born 1971), writer *

August Kitzberg August Kitzberg ( in Laatre Parish, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire – 10 October 1927 in Tartu) was an Estonian writer. Life Until 1863, August Kitzberg was known as August Kits. He grew up in Niitsaadu farmstead in Penuja village, Ab ...

(1855–1927), writer *

Albert Kivikas Albert Kivikas ( in Groß-St. Johannis, Livonia, Russian Empire – 19 May 1978 in Lund) was an Estonian writer and journalist. He is best known as the author of the book '' Names in Marble'' ( et, "Nimed marmortahvlil"), the subject of which i ...

(1898–1978), writer * Andrus Kivirähk (born 1970), writer *

Lydia Koidula Lydia Emilie Florentine Jannsen, ( – ), known by her pen name Lydia Koidula, was an Estonian poet. Her sobriquet means 'Lydia of the Dawn' in Estonian. It was given to her by the writer Carl Robert Jakobson. She is also frequently referred to ...

(Lydia Jannsen, 1843–1886), poet *

Madis Kõiv Madis Kõiv (5 December 1929, Tartu, Estonia – 24 September 2014, Tartu, Estonia) was an Estonian writer, philosopher and physicist. Education Kõiv attended school in Tartu after the second World War, graduating in the early 1950s with a d ...

(1929–2014), author, physicist and philosopher *

Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald ( – ) was an Estonian writer who is considered to be the father of the national literature for the country. He is the author of Estonian national epic ''Kalevipoeg''. Life Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald's pare ...

(1803–1882), physician, writer, author of national epic *

Jaan Kross Jaan Kross (19 February 1920 – 27 December 2007) was an Estonian writer. He won the 1995 International Nonino Prize in Italy. Early life Born in Tallinn, Estonia, son of a skilled metal-worker, Jaan Kross studied at Jakob Westholm Gymnasium ...

(1920–2007), writer *

Kalle Kurg Kalle Kurg (born 25 May 1942 in Tartu) is an Estonian poet, writer, critic, translator and editor. As a versatile figure in Estonian culture, he has also published caricatures and worked as a theatre director. Life Kalle Kurg studied Estonian Ph ...

(born 1942), poet, writer, critic, translator *

Paul Kuusberg Paul Kuusberg (30 April 1916 – 21 January 2003) was an Estonian writer. Novellas by him include “''Roostetanud kastekann''” (1971) and “''Võõras või õige mees''” (1978), which won an award in Estonia. Biography Kuusberg was born in ...

(1916–2003), writer *

Kalle Lasn Kalle Lasn () (born March 24, 1942) is an Estonian-Canadian film maker, author, magazine editor, and activist. Near the end of World War II, his family fled Estonia and Lasn spent some time in a German refugee camp. At age seven he was resettled ...

(born 1942), founder of Adbusters magazine *

Kalju Lepik Kalju Lepik (7 October 1920, in Koeru Parish – 30 May 1999, in Tallinn) was an Estonian poet who lived as an exile for most of his life. Kalju Lepik published his first poems in 1939 in Tartu students' journals Iloli and Tuleviku Rajad ('The ...

(1920–1999), poet *

Juhan Liiv Juhan Liiv ( – ) is one of Estonia's most famous poets and prose writers. Childhood Juhan (birth names Johannes) Liiv, the son of Benjamin and Marianna Liiv (née Pärn), was born on 30 April 1864, in Alatskivi Parish (now Peipsiääre ...

(1864–1913), poet, writer *

Martin Lipp Martin Lipp ( in Vooru, Viljandi Parish – 8 March 1923 in Tallinn) was an Estonian poet. He is best known as the author of the poem "The Estonian Flag", which was set to the music of the then young composer Enn Võrk. That song became as po ...

(1854–1923), poet * Viivi Luik (born 1946), poet *

Oskar Luts Oskar Luts ( – 23 March 1953) was an Estonian writer and playwright. Biography Oskar Luts was born into a middle-class family in Järvepera, central Estonia, at that time in the governorate of Livonia (Russian Empire). His younger brother was ...

(1887–1953), writer * Iko Maran (1915–1999), writer *

Otto Wilhelm Masing Otto Wilhelm Masing ( in Lohusuu, Kreis Dorpat, Livland Governorate – in Äksi, Livland Governorate) was an early Baltic German Estophile and a major advocate of peasant rights, especially regarding education. Life He received schooling ...

(1763–1862), pastor, philologist, journalist * Uku Masing (1909–1985), poet, theologian, ethnologist * Lennart Meri (1929–2006), writer, politician *

Kersti Merilaas Kersti Merilaas ( in Narva – 8 March 1986 in Tallinn) was an Estonian poet and translator. In addition, she wrote poems and prose for children and plays. Early life and education Kersti Merilaas was born Eugenie Moorberg in Narva, Estonia shor ...

(1913–1986), poet, playwright *

Mait Metsanurk Mait Metsanurk (born Eduard Hubel, 19 November 1879 – 21 August 1957) was an Estonian writer who led the neo-realist school of Estonian literature. Early years Mait Metsanurk was born as the youngest of eight children in a peasant family in ...

(1879–1957), writer *

Mihkel Mutt Mihkel Mutt (born 18 February 1953 in Tartu) is an Estonian writer, essayist, columnist and editor. Life Mihkel Mutt is the son of linguist and translator and the grandson of military colonel and diplomat Victor Johann Mutt, Victor Mutt. Mutt st ...

(born 1953), writer, critic *

August Mälk August Mälk (4 October 1900 – 19 December 1987) was an Estonian writer and politician. Life August Mälk was born on , in Lümanda Parish in the village of Koovi (then named Kipi-Koovi), located on the west coast of the island of Saare ...

(1900–1987), writer *

Ellen Niit Ellen Niit (born Ellen Hiob; Ellen Niit since 1958) (13 July 1928 – 30 May 2016) was an Estonian children's writer, poet and translator. Over her lifetime, she penned more than forty books of both prose and poetry for children. She also wrot ...

(1928–2016), children's writer, poet and translator *

Minni Nurme Minni Katharina Nurme (born 30 October 1917 in Aidu Parish, today Viljandi Parish, Viljandi County; died 22 November 1994 in Tallinn) was an Estonian writer. Life and career Born Minni Neumann, Nurme graduated from the girls' school in Viljandi ...

(1917–1994), writer and poet *

Tõnu Õnnepalu Tõnu Õnnepalu (born 13 September 1962), also known by the pen names Emil Tode and Anton Nigov, is an Estonian poet, author and translator. Õnnepalu was born in Tallinn and studied biology at the University of Tartu from 1980 to 1985. He bega ...

(aka Emil Tode, born 1962), writer *

Ants Oras Ants Oras (8 December 1900 – 21 December 1982) was an Estonian translator and writer. Oras was born in Tallinn and studied at the University of Tartu, graduating with a Master of Philosophy degree in 1923. He also obtained a Bachelor of Litera ...

(1900–1982), writer and translator * Eeva Park (born 1950), writer and poet * Aino Pervik (born 1932), children's author *

Kristjan Jaak Peterson Kristian Jaak Peterson (, Riga – , Riga) also known as Christian Jacob Petersohn, was an Estonian poet, commonly regarded as a herald of Estonian national literature and the founder of modern Estonian poetry. He died of tuberculosis aged 21. ...

(1801–1822), poet *

Lilli Promet Lilli Promet (16 February 1922 – 16 February 2007) was an Estonian author. Life Promet was born in Petseri to the Estonian painter, Aleksander Promet. After finishing Tallinn 18th Elementary School, she entered the State Industrial Art School ...

(1922–2007), writer *

Eno Raud Eno Raud (15 February 1928 – 10 July 1996) was an Estonian children's writer. His works are considered classics in Estonia as well as in the other former Soviet countries. Raud was included in International Board on Books for Young People (IBB ...

(1928–1996), children's book author * Mart Raud (1903–1980), writer *

Hugo Raudsepp Hugo Raudsepp (10 July 1883 – 15 September 1952) was an influential and prolific Estonian playwright and politician. Cody, Sprinchorn 2007, p. 428. In 1951 he was deported to the Irkutsk region by the Soviet authorities, where he died. Raun 2001 ...

(1883–1952), playwright * Karl Ristikivi (1912–1977), writer, poet * Aarne Ruben (born 1971), writer *

Paul-Eerik Rummo Paul-Eerik Rummo (born January 19, 1942) is an Estonian poet, playwright, translator and politician who was the former Estonian Minister of Culture and Education, as well as the former Estonian Minister of Population Affairs. Rummo was born in T ...

(born 1942), poet, politician *

Balthasar Russow Balthasar Russow (1536–1600) was one of the most important Livonian and Estonian chroniclers. Russow was born in Reval, Livonia (now Tallinn, Estonia). He was educated at an academy in Stettin, Pomerania (now Szczecin, Poland). He was the ...

(c. 1536–1600), chronicler *

Peeter Sauter Peeter Sauter (born March 11, 1962, in Tallinn) is an Estonian author, translator and former actor. Literature In 1980, Sauter enrolled in the Tallinn State Conservatory (now, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre), studying acting under co ...

(born 1962), writer *

Johannes Semper Johannes Semper ( – 21 February 1970) was an Estonian poet, writer, translator and politician. He was born in Pahuvere (now Viljandi Parish), Kreis Fellin, in the Governorate of Livonia. A student and later a prominent scholar at the Univers ...

(1892–1970), writer, poet *

Juhan Smuul Juhan Smuul (18 February 1922 – 13 April 1971) was an Estonian writer. Until 1954 he used the given name Johannes Schmuul. Career Smuul was born in Koguva village on the island of Muhu to Jüri and Ruudu Schmuul (née Tuulik). He had three ...

(1922–1971), writer, poet *

Gustav Suits Gustav Suits ( in Võnnu, Tartu County, Livonia – 23 May 1956 in Stockholm, Sweden) is considered one of the greatest Estonian poets.W. K. Matthews, ''The Background and Poetry of Gustav Suits. A Study in Estonian Symbolism'', American Slavi ...

(1883–1956), poet * Heiti Talvik (1904–1947), poet *

Harald Tammer Harald Tammer (9 January 1899 – 6 June 1942) was an Estonian journalist, athlete and weightlifter. As a heavyweight weightlifter he won a world title in 1922 and a bronze medal at the 1924 Olympics. As an athlete he competed in the shot put ...

(1899–1942), journalist * A. H. Tammsaare (1878–1940), writer *

Mats Traat Mats Traat (23 November 1936 – 27 June 2022) was an Estonian poet, poetry translator, and author. Career Traat was born in Arula, Otepää Parish. He debuted in 1962 with a collection of poetry. He published over 20 anthologies of poetry. ...

(born 1936), author, poet *

Tõnu Trubetsky Tõnu Trubetsky (born 24 April 1963), also known as Tony Blackplait, is an Estonian punk rock/glam punk musician, film and music video director, and individualist anarchist. Political activity Trubetsky is a former member of the Estonian Gree ...

(born 1963), writer, musician, film director *

Friedebert Tuglas Friedebert Tuglas, born Friedebert Mihkelson or Michelson (2 March 1886 – 15 April 1971) was an Estonian writer and critic who introduced Impressionism and Symbolism to Estonian literature.Marie Under Marie Under ( – 25 September 1980) was one of the greatest Estonian poets. She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 12 separate years. Early life Under was born in Reval (now Tallinn), Estonia to school teachers ...

(1883–1980), poet *

Mati Unt Mati Unt (1 January 1944 Linnamäe, Voore Parish (now Voore, Mustvee Parish), Jõgeva County, Estonia – 22 August 2005, Tallinn) was an Estonian writer, essayist and theatre director. Biography His first novel, written at the age of 18 af ...

(1944–2005), writer, stage director *

Edgar Valter Edgar Valter (21 September 1929, Tallinn – 4 March 2006, Tartu) was an Estonian graphic artist, caricaturist, writer and illustrator of children's books, with over 250 books to his name, through 55 years of activity (1950–2005). His most fa ...

(1929–2006), writer, artist *

Arvo Valton Arvo Vallikivi (born 14 December 1935 in Märjamaa), commonly known under the pen name of Arvo Valton, is an Estonian writer known for a number of books and, among other things, the script for Viimne reliikvia, the highly successful movie adaptat ...

(born 1935), writer *

Priit Vesilind Priit Juho Vesilind (born 4 January 1943) is an Estonian and American senior writer and photojournalist of '' National Geographic'' magazine and an author of nonfiction. Early life and education Vesilind was born in Tallinn. In 1944, when he w ...

(born 1943), journalist, photographer, author (United States) *

Enn Vetemaa Enn Vetemaa (June 20, 1936March 28, 2017) was an Estonian writer sometimes referred to as a "forgotten classic",Juhan Viiding (1948–1995), poet, actor * Paul Viiding (1904–1962), poet *

Eduard Vilde Eduard Vilde ( – 26 December 1933) was an Estonian writer, a pioneer of critical realism in Estonian literature, and a diplomat. Author of classics such as ''The War in Mahtra'' and ''The Milkman from Mäeküla''. He was one of the most revere ...

(1865–1933), writer, journalist * Heiki Vilep (born 1960), writer *

Henrik Visnapuu Henrik Visnapuu ( – 3 April 1951) was a well-known Estonian poet and dramatist. Life Henrik Visnapuu was born in Helme Parish, Viljandi County, Livonia. He first attended the village school in Reola (today in Ülenurme Parish) and college in ...

(1890–1951), poet, journalist *

Gero von Wilpert Gero von Wilpert (13 March 1933 – 24 December 2009) was a German author, a senior lecturer in German at the University of New South Wales and, from 1980, Professor of German at the University of Sydney. Life and career Wilpert was born in Ta ...

(1933–2009), writer * Wimberg (Jaak Urmet; born 1979), journalist, poet *

Hella Wuolijoki Hella Wuolijoki (née Ella Marie Murrik; 22 July 1886 – 2 February 1954), also known by the pen name Juhani Tervapää, was an Estonian-born Finnish writer known for her ''Niskavuori'' series.Wuolijoki, Hella. Eesti Entsüklopeedia 10. Estonian ...

(1886–1954), writer, politician (

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...

)

Military and seafaring

* Avdy Andresson (1899–1990), politician *

Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen Fabian Gottlieb Thaddeus von Bellingshausen (russian: Фадде́й Фадде́евич Беллинсга́узен, translit=Faddéy Faddéevich Bellinsgáuzen; – ) was a Russian naval officer, cartographer and explorer, who ultimatel ...

(1778–1852), geographer, navigator, admiral *

Alexander von Benckendorff Konstantin Alexander Karl Wilhelm Christoph Graf von Benckendorff (russian: Александр Христофорович Бенкендорф, Alexander Khristoforovich Benkendorf, – ) was a Baltic German Cavalry General and statesman, A ...

(1783–1844), general, politician *

Konstantin von Benckendorff Konstantin von Benckendorff (russian: Константин Христофорович Бенкендорф, ''Konstantin Khristoforovich Benkendorf''; 31 January 1785 – 6 August 1828) was a Baltic German general and diplomat. Life and career K ...

(1785–1828), general, diplomat *

Herbert Brede Herbert Lorentz Brede (25 April 1888 in Püssi – 6 October 1942 in Norilsk) was an Estonian soldier and general. Brede fought in World War I as an officer of the Imperial Russian Army against the Central Powers. After World War I he fought ...

(1888–1942), general *Ivar Brok (1977–2008), Estonian Army, killed in action in Afghanistan *

Aleksander Einseln Aleksander Einseln (25 October 1931 – 16 March 2017) was an Estonian general, the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces from 1993 to 1995 and previously a United States Army colonel. Born in Estonia, his mother and he – barely in his teens ...

(1931–2017), general, politician *

Jacob De la Gardie Field Marshal and Count Jacob Pontusson De la Gardie ( Reval, 20 June 1583 – Stockholm, 22 August 1652) was a statesman and a soldier of the Swedish Empire, and a Marshal from 1620 onward. He was Privy Councilor from 1613 onward, Governo ...

(1583–1652), officer, statesman * Otto Heinze (1877–1968), general * Nikolai Helk (1885–1942), general *

Aleksander Jaakson Aleksander Jaakson (29 January 1892 – 2 October 1942) was an Estonian general and educator. After beginnings as a teacher in Türi, he served with the Imperial Russian Army in World War I, and was advanced to Staff Captain. During the disinte ...

(1892–1942), general, statesman * Martin Jervan (1891–1942), general *

Otto von Kotzebue Otto von Kotzebue (russian: О́тто Евста́фьевич Коцебу́, tr. ; – ) was a Russian officer and navigator in the Imperial Russian Navy. He was born in Reval. He was known for his explorations of Oceania. Early life ...

(1787–1846), geographer, navigator *

Tarmo Kõuts Tarmo Kõuts (born 27 November 1953) is an Estonian politician and former Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces. Kõuts graduated from Tallinn Maritime School in 1973 and from Kaliningrad Technical Institute in 1985. From 1973 to 1990 he ...

(born 1953), admiral, politician *

Adam Johann von Krusenstern Adam Johann von Krusenstern (also Krusenstjerna in Swedish; russian: Ива́н Фёдорович Крузенште́рн, tr. ; 10 October 177012 August 1846) was a Russian admiral and explorer, who led the first Russian circumnavigatio ...

(1770–1846), geographer, navigator * Julius Kuperjanov (1894–1919), officer *

Ants Laaneots Ants Laaneots (born 16 January 1948) is an Estonian politician and former military officer. He was previously the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces and a veteran officer in the Soviet Army. Laaneots previously served as the Commandant o ...

(born 1948), general *

Johan Laidoner Johan Laidoner ( – 13 March 1953) was an Estonian general and statesman. He served as Commander‑in‑Chief of the Estonian Armed Forces during the 1918–1920 Estonian War of Independence and was among the most influential people in the Eston ...

(1884–1953), general, politician *

Andres Larka Andres Larka VR I/1 (5 March 1879 Pilistvere (now Põhja-Sakala Parish), Kreis Fellin – 8 January 1943 Malmyzh, Kirov, Soviet Union) was an Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence and a politician. In 1902 he gr ...

(1879–1942), general, politician *

Hans Leesment Hans Leesment (13 February 1873 – 26 August 1944 in Tallinn) was an Estonian general. From 1919 up until 1940, he was a founder, and the president, of the Estonian Red Cross. On 24 February 1933 he was promoted to the rank of major general ...

(1873–1944), general * Lembitu of Lehola (died 1217), tribal elder, military commander *

Andres Nuiamäe Andres Nuiamäe (2 June 1982 in Lehtse, Lääne-Viru County, Estonia – 28 February 2004 in Iraq) was a Junior Sergeant of the Estonian Ground Forces, assigned to the ESTPLA-8 unit in Baghdad, Iraq. Biography Andres Nuiamäe was 21 years ...

(1982–2004), first Estonian soldier killed in action in

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...

Karl Parts Karl Parts VR I/1, VR II/2, VR II/3 (15 July 1886 in Palupera Commune, Estonia – 1 September 1941 in Kirov, Soviet Union) was an Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence. In 1915, he graduated from Peterhof Mili ...

(1886–1941), officer *

Johan Pitka Johan Pitka, VR I/1, (also Juhan Pitka; 19 February 1872 – 22 November 1944) was an Estonian entrepreneur, sea captain and a rear admiral (1919). He was the Commander of the Estonian Navy in the Estonian War of Independence. Johan Pitka ...

(1872–1944?), admiral, politician *

Ernst Põdder Ernst-Johannes Põdder VR I/1 (10 February 1879 – 24 June 1932) was a famous Estonian military commander in the Estonian War of Independence. In 1900 Põdder graduated from the Vilnius Military Academy. In the Russo-Japanese war he achieved ...

(1879–1932), general *

Viktor Puskar Viktor Puskar VR I/1 ( in Viljandi – 12 April 1943 in Tartu) was an Estonian military commander (Colonel) during the Estonian War of Independence. In 1911 he graduated from Vilnius Military Academy. Puskar participated in World War I, joini ...

(1889–1943), officer *

Alfons Rebane Alfons Vilhelm Robert Rebane, known simply as Alfons Rebane (24 June 1908 – 8 March 1976) was an Estonian military commander. He was the most highly decorated Estonian military officer during World War II, serving in various Wehrmacht and Waffe ...

(1908–1976), officer, intelligence operative *

Nikolai Reek Nikolai Reek VR I/2, VR II/2, VR II/3 (born Nikolai Bazykov; in Tallinn, Governorate of Estonia – 8 May 1942 Ussollag, Perm Oblast, Soviet Union) was the Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence. In 1910, he gradua ...

(1890–1942), general *

Harald Riipalu Harald Riipalu (born as Harald Reibach) (13 February 1912 – 4 April 1961) was an Estonian commander in the German Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Ca ...

(1912–1961), officer *

Paul Maitla Paul Maitla (born Paul Mathiesen;Paul Maitla

Harald Nugiseks Harald Nugiseks (22 October 1921 – 2 January 2014) was an Waffen-Oberscharführer (Sergeant) in World War II, who served in the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian) of the ''Waffen-SS''. Nugiseks is also one of the four E ...

(1921–2014), officer *

August Sabbe August Sabbe (1 September 1909 – 27 or 28 September 1978) was one of the last surviving Estonian members of the Forest Brothers, a group of citizens of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania who resisted and fought against the Soviet occupation of thei ...

(1909–1978), guerrilla * Jaan Soots (1880–1942), general * Allain Tikko (1979–2009), Estonian Army, killed in action in Afghanistan *

Aleksander Tõnisson Aleksander Tõnisson VR I/1 (17 April 1875 – 30 June 1941) was an Estonian military commander (Major General) during the Estonian War of Independence. In 1899 he graduated from Vilnius Military Academy. Tõnisson participated in Russo-Japane ...

(1875–1941), general * Jaan Usin (1887–1941), navy officer, commander of the Peipsi flotilla *

Ferdinand von Wrangel Baron Ferdinand Friedrich Georg Ludwig von Wrangel (russian: Барон Фердина́нд Петро́вич Вра́нгель, tr. ; – ) was a Baltic German explorer and seaman in the Imperial Russian Navy, Honorable Member of the Saint ...

(1796–1870),

Arctic The Arctic ( or ) is a polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut), Danish Realm (Greenland), Finland, Iceland, N ...

explorer

Music

Evald Aav Evald Aav ( – 21 March 1939) was an Estonian composer born in Tallinn, Governorate of Estonia, Russian Empire. He studied music composition there with Artur Kapp and wrote primarily vocal music to words in the Estonian language. In 1928 he comp ...

(1900–1939), composer, choir conductor *

Juhan Aavik Juhan Aavik (29 January 1884, in Holstre, Kreis Fellin, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire – 26 November 1982, in Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden) was an Estonian composer. Aavik studied music composition at the Saint Petersburg C ...

(1884–1982), composer, conductor * Urmas Alender (1953–1994), pop musician * Olav Ehala (born 1950), composer *

Heino Eller Heino Eller (7 March 1887 – 16 June 1970) was an Estonian composer and pedagogue, known as the founder of contemporary Estonian symphonic music. Life Eller was born in Tartu, where he took private lessons in violin and music theory, played i ...

(1887–1970), composer *

Olari Elts Olari Elts (born April 27, 1971 in Tallinn) is an Estonian conductor. He was the principal conductor of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra from 2001 to 2006. He is the founder and director of the contemporary music ensemble NYYD Ensemble. ...

(born 1971), conductor *

Gustav Ernesaks Gustav Ernesaks (12 December 1908 – 24 January 1993) was an Estonian composer and a choir conducting, conductor. Biography Ernesaks was born in Perila, Peningi Parish. He played an integral role in the Singing Revolution and was one of the ...

(1908–1993), composer, conductor *

Eda-Ines Etti Eda-Ines Etti (, born 26 May 1981), also known as simply Ines, is an Estonian singer and songwriter. Etti represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 with the song " Once in a Lifetime", placing fourth. Until their win the following ...

("Ines", born 1981), pop musician *

Miina Härma Miina Härma (born Miina Hermann; 9 February 1864 – 16 November 1941) was an Estonian composer. She was the second Estonian musician with higher education. Her greatest contribution is perhaps the fact that she took organ music to the c ...

(1864–1941), composer, conductor *

Maarja-Liis Ilus Maarja-Liis Ilus, sometimes better known by her performing name Maarja (born 24 December 1980) is an Estonian pop musician and presenter. She has represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest twice. She was only 15 when she participated in the ...

("Maarja", born 1980), pop musician *

(1819–1890), conductor, journalist *

Neeme Järvi Neeme Järvi (; born 7 June 1937) is an Estonian American conductor. Early life Järvi was born in Tallinn. He initially studied music there, and later in Leningrad at the Leningrad Conservatory under Yevgeny Mravinsky, and Nikolai Rabinovich, ...

(born 1937), conductor *

Paavo Järvi Paavo Järvi (; born 30 December 1962) is an Estonian-American conductor. Early life Järvi was born in Tallinn, Estonia, to Liilia Järvi and the Estonian conductor Neeme Järvi. His siblings, Kristjan Järvi and Maarika Järvi, are also mu ...

(born 1962), conductor *

Piret Järvis Piret Järvis (born 6 February 1984 in Tallinn) is an Estonian television host and a singer, guitarist, and songwriter of the popular girl group Vanilla Ninja. Born to Maire and Enno Järvis she has an older sister and a younger brother. After ...

(born 1984), rock musician * Joonatan Jürgenson (born 1991), classical pianist *

Artur Kapp Artur Kapp (28 February 1878 – 14 January 1952) was an Estonian composer. Born in Suure-Jaani, Estonia, then part of the Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire, he was the son of Joosep Kapp, who was also a classically trained musician. K ...

(1878–1952), composer *

Eugen Kapp Eugen Arturovich Kapp ( – 29 October 1996) was an Estonian composer and music educator. Characterized by simple harmonies, march rhythms and an appealing melodic style, his music is reflective upon the musical ideas favoured by the Stalinist r ...

(1908–1996), composer *

Tõnu Kaljuste Tõnu Kaljuste (born August 28, 1953) is an Estonian conductor. Born in Tallinn, Kaljuste is the son of Heino Kaljuste (1925–1989), an Estonian choral conductor, and Lia Kaljuste, a radio journalist. Tõnu sang in his father's choirs as a chil ...

(born 1953), conductor *

Mari Kalkun Mari Kalkun (born 1 April 1986) is an Estonian singer and musician who specializes in contemporary folk music. She has performed at home and abroad with the ensemble Runorum, releasing several recordings since 2007. In 2013, she was voted the bes ...

(born 1986), folk singer *

Paul Kostabi Paul Indrek Kostabi (also known as Ena; born October 1, 1962 in Whittier, California, United States) is an American artist, musician, record producer and audio engineer. He is the brother of artist Mark Kostabi. Kostabi was a founding member o ...

(born 1962), musician *

Maarja Kivi Marya Roxx (born Maarja Kivi on 18 January 1986) is an Estonian hard rock/metal singer-songwriter residing in Los Angeles. She is a former member of the Estonian girl band Vanilla Ninja. Background When the girl band Vanilla Ninja was founded ...

(born 1986), rock/metal musician *

Triinu Kivilaan Triinu Kivilaan (born 13 January 1989 in Viljandi, Estonia) is an Estonian vocalist and former model, best known as a former member of the popular girl group Vanilla Ninja. She had been modelling for several years when she replaced Maarja Kivi ...

(born 1989), model, pop/rock musician *

Eri Klas Eri Klas (7 June 1939 – 26 February 2016) was an Estonian conductor. Klas was born into a Jewish family in Tallinn. His mother was pianist Anna Klas. His father, Eduard Klas, was killed in 1941, during the Holocaust.''Eesti Entsüklope ...

(1939–2016), conductor (Jewish) *

Kerli Kõiv Kerli Kõiv (; born 7 February 1987), better known mononymously as Kerli, is an Estonian singer and songwriter. Born in Elva, Kerli entered multiple singing competitions before being signed to Island Records in 2006 by LA Reid. In 2007, she re ...

("Kerli", born 1987), musician, songwriter * Cyrillus Kreek (1889–1962), composer *

Lenna Kuurmaa Lenna Kuurmaa (born 26 September 1985) is an Estonian singer-songwriter and actress.Heli Lääts Heli Lääts (24 June 1932 – 16 February 2018) was an Estonian singer (mezzo-soprano) whose career began in the mid-1950s. Lääts predominantly performed estrada, chamber, pop, polka, and jazz music. Early life and education Heli Lääts wa ...

(1932–2018), singer *

Käbi Laretei Käbi Alma Laretei (14 July 1922 – 31 October 2014) was an Estonian-Swedish concert pianist. Her father Heinrich Laretei was a diplomat in the service of the Republic of Estonia as ambassador to Sweden; when the Soviet Union occupied Estonia ...

(1922–2014), pianist, composer, writer *

Artur Lemba Artur Lemba (24 September 1885, Tallinn – 21 November 1963, Tallinn) was an Estonian composer and piano teacher, and one of the most important figures in Estonian classical music. Artur and his older brother Theodor (1876-1962) were the first ...

(1885–1963), pianist, composer * Ott Lepland (born 1987), singer, actor *

Ivo Linna Ivo Linna (born 12 June 1949 in Kuressaare) is an Estonian singer. Eurovision Song Contest and Eesti Laul He represented Estonia alongside Maarja Liis Ilus in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 in Oslo with the song " Kaelakee Hääl" (The Sound ...

(born 1949), singer, pop musician * Uno Loop (1930–2021), singer, musician, athlete, actor, educator * Mihkel Lüdig (1880–1958) composer, organist, choir conductor *

Ester Mägi Ester Mägi (10 January 1922 – 14 May 2021) was an Estonian composer, widely regarded as the First Lady of Estonian Music. Biography Her compositional output is substantial and represents all genres, from chamber and vocal music to choral and ...

(1922–2021), composer *

Tõnis Mägi Tõnis Mägi (born 18 November 1948 in Tallinn) is an Estonian singer, guitarist, composer and actor. He is one of the most influential and remarkable names in Estonian rock music of the past 40 years. More recently, he is known for his politi ...

(born 1948), singer, pop musician *

Alo Mattiisen Alo Mattiisen (22 April 1961 – 30 May 1996) was an Estonian musician and composer. One of the most famous melodies that he composed was a patriotic song titled "No land is alone", with lyrics written by the Estonian poet Jüri Leesment. Sev ...

(1961–1996), composer *

Maria Minerva Maria Juur (born 15 March 1988), better known by her stage name Maria Minerva, is an Estonian musician and activist. Maria Minerva is the recipient of two Estonian Music Awards. Her releases have received critical acclaim from music publicati ...

(born 1988), experimental musician *

Getter Jaani Getter Jaani (born 3 February 1993) is an Estonian singer and actress. She represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 with the song " Rockefeller Street". Early life Getter was born and raised in Tallinn. In 2015, she graduated n ...

(born 1993), singer, actress *

Sandra Nurmsalu Sandra Nurmsalu (born 6 December 1988) is an Estonian singer, songwriter, and violinist. Recognized within Estonia for her genre-bending style, Nurmsalu has garnered success as both the lead singer of Urban Symphony and as a solo artist. Nurmsal ...

(born 1988), singer *

Maarja Nuut Maarja Nuut (born 1986) is an Estonian singer and violinist. After first studying classical music, she turned to folk, adopting the village style of traditional Estonian songs. She debuted as a solo artist in 2013, winning the Artists Prize at ...

(born 1986), singer and violinist *

Birgit Õigemeel Birgit Sarrap (née Õigemeel, born 24 September 1988), also known as simply Birgit, is an Estonian singer. Õigemeel rose to prominence in 2007 after winning the Eesti otsib superstaari (season 1), first season of ''Eesti otsib superstaari'', ...

(born 1988), singer *

Georg Ots Georg Ots (21 March 1920 – 5 September 1975) was an Estonian singer, actor and People's Artist of the USSR (1960). Biography Before studying singing with the Estonian baritone Aleksander Rahnel in Yaroslavl in the rear of the Eastern Fron ...

(1920–1975), opera singer *

Tanel Padar Tanel Padar (born 27 October 1980) is an Estonian singer and songwriter. He is best known internationally for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2001. Padar became famous by winning the ''Kaks takti ette'', a biennial televised competition for ...

(born 1980), pop musician * Rene Pais ("Syn Cole", born 1988), DJ, record producer * Arvo Pärt (born 1935), composer *

Annely Peebo Annely Peebo (born 16 November 1971) is an Estonian operatic mezzo-soprano. She was a co-host of the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 in Tallinn. Life and career Annely Peebo gained a diploma for choral conducting and completed vocal studies in ope ...

(born 1971), opera singer *

Kristiina Poska Kristiina Poska (born 12 July 1978, Türi, Estonia) is an Estonian conductor. Biography At age eight, Poska began piano lessons. She graduated from Türi Music School in piano studies in 1994, and then studied choral conducting at the Georg Ot ...

(born 1978), conductor *

Jaan Rääts Jaan Rääts (15 October 1932 – 25 December 2020) was an Estonian composer who worked extensively on Estonian film scores of the 1960s and 1970s. He was born in Tartu and became a member of the Estonian Composers' Union in 1957. Compositi ...

(1932–2020), composer * Kalle Randalu (born 1955), pianist * Rein Rannap (born 1953), composer, pianist * Vardo Rumessen (born 1942), pianist, politician *

Mart Saar Mart Saar ( in Hüpassaare – 28 October 1963) was an Estonian composer, organist and collector of folk songs. Childhood Saar was born at the small borough of Hüpassaare (now in Karjasoo, Suure-Jaani Parish), Kreis Fellin in the Livonian ...

(1882–1963), composer *

Evelin Samuel Evelin Samuel (born 13 May 1975) is an Estonian singer, songwriter, musical theater performer, author of children's books and participant in the Eurovision Song Contest. Career Evelin Samuel has been singing since childhood and was even record ...

(born 1975), pop musician *

Mart Sander Mart Sander (born 10 August 1967) is an Estonian singer, actor, director, author, artist, and television host. Life and career In his youth, Mart Sander studied violin and conducting. He started singing in the choir of the Estonian National Op ...

(born 1967), singer, actor *

Urmas Sisask Urmas Sisask (9 September 1960 – 17 December 2022) was an Estonian composer. Biography Sisask was born in Rapla on 9 September 1960. One of the major inspirations for his music was astronomy. Based on the trajectories of the planets in the ...

(born 1960), composer * Katrin Siska (born 1983), rock musician * Eduard Sõrmus (1878–1940), violinist *

Lepo Sumera Lepo Sumera (8 May 1950 – 2 June 2000) was an Estonian composer and teacher. Life and career He was born in Tallinn and studied with Veljo Tormis in his teens, and from 1968, with Heino Eller at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (t ...

(1950–2000), composer * Eino Tamberg (1930–2010), composer * Kalmer Tennosaar (1928–2004), singer, TV journalist *

Rudolf Tobias Rudolf Tobias ( – 29 October 1918) was the first Estonian professional composer, as well as a professional organist. He studied at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. His compositions include among others piano works, string quartets and an ...

(1873–1918), composer *

Helen Tobias-Duesberg Helen Tobias-Duesberg (11 June 1919 – 4 February 2010) was an Estonian-American composer. Life Helen Tobias was born in Suure-Jaani, Estonia on 11 June 1919. Tobias was the youngest daughter of Estonian composer, Rudolf Tobias, born seven mon ...

(1919–2010), composer *

Kärt Tomingas Kärt Tomingas (born 5 April 1967) is an Estonian stage, television, voice and film actress, singer, lecturer and acting and theatre pedagogue. Tomingas' career began in the 1980s as a folk-pop, rock and jazz singer and soon after began a career ...

(born 1967), actress, singer-songwriter *

Koit Toome Koit Toome (born 3 January 1979), is an Estonian singer and musical actor. He has twice represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest. In 1998 he finished 12th with the song "Mere lapsed". In 2017 he sang a duet with Laura Põldvere, entit ...

(born 1979), pop musician *

Veljo Tormis Veljo Tormis (7 August 1930 – 21 January 2017) was an Estonian composer, regarded as one of the great contemporary choral composers and one of the most important composers of the 20th century in Estonia.Daitz, Mimi. Ancient Song Recovered: The ...

(1930–2017), composer *

(born 1963), singer, composer, writer * Eduard Tubin (1905–1982), composer *

Erkki-Sven Tüür Erkki-Sven Tüür (born 16 October 1959) is an Estonian composer. Life and career Tüür () was born in Kärdla on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa. He studied flute and percussion at the Tallinn Music School from 1976 to 1980 and composition w ...

(born 1959), composer *

Raimond Valgre Raimond Valgre (born Raimond Tiisel; 7 October 1913 – 31 December 1949) was an Estonian composer and musician, whose songs have become some of the most well known in Estonia. During World War II, Valgre was conscripted into the Red Army and was ...

(1913–1949), composer *

Anne Veski Anne Veski (born Anne Vaarmann; 27 February 1956) is an Estonian pop singer who has recorded music in both her native language as well as Russian. Biography Anne Veski was born as Anne Vaarmann in Rapla, Estonia. She graduated from the musica ...

(born 1956), pop musician * Asta Vihandi (1929–1993), opera singer, actress * Vello Viisimaa (1928–1991), singer, actor *

Tommy Cash (rapper) Tomas Tammemets (born 18 November 1991), better known by his stage name Tommy Cash (sometimes stylised as TOMM¥ €A$H), is an Estonian rapper and singer. He is known for raunchy lyrical themes and provocative music videos. Early life and educ ...

(born 1991), rapper

Performing arts

* Argo Aadli (born 1980), actor *

Ott Aardam Ott Aardam (born 1 July 1980) is an Estonian stage, television, and film actor. Early life Born and raised in Orissaare on the island of Saaremaa, he graduated from primary school in 1995 from Orissaare Gymnasium. In 1998, he graduated from seco ...

(born 1980), actor *

Tõnu Aav Tõnu Aav (21 January 1939 – 14 August 2019) was an Estonian stage, film, TV, and radio actor. Aav was born in Tallinn and graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 1961. From 1961 he performed at the Estonian Drama Theatre i ...

(1939–2019), actor *

Eino Baskin Eino Baskin (17 June 1929 – 11 March 2015) was an Estonian actor and theatre director. Baskin was born in Tallinn to Jewish parents Hirsch and Maria Baskin (née Raage). In 1951 he graduated from before becoming engaged at the Estonian Drama T ...

(1929–2015) *

Taavi Eelmaa Taavi Eelmaa (born 15 June 1971) is an Estonian stage and film actor. Biography Career Born and raised in Tallinn, he is the son of actor Aleksander Eelmaa and Reet Eelmaa. Taavi Eelmaa began studies at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, ...

(born 1971), actor *

Herta Elviste Herta Elviste (12 June 1923 – 29 October 2015), was an Estonian stage, film and television actress and assistant theatre director whose career spanned nearly seventy years. Early life and education Herta Elviste was born Herta Marianne Brandt t ...

(1923–2015), actress *

Ants Eskola Ants Eskola (until 1935 Erhard-Voldemar Esperk;Eskola 1986: 7 17 February 1908 in Tallinn – 14 December 1989 in Tallinn) was a Soviet Union, Soviet and Estonian actor, singer and artist. He appeared in 25 films from 1930 to 1979. People's Artist ...

(1908–1989), actor *

Ita Ever Ita Ever (born Ilse Ever; 1 April 1931, Paide, Järva County) is an Estonian film, radio, theater and television actress. She is widely regarded as a Grand Old Lady of Estonian theatre. Biography She began her career in 1953 as a stage actress ...

(born 1931), actress * Viiu Härm (born 1944), actress, poet * Kersti Heinloo (born 1976), actress *

Evald Hermaküla Evald Hermaküla (6 December 1941 – 16 May 2000) was an Estonian actor and director. Hermaküla was born in the village of Maardu in Jõelähtme Parish. In 1965 he graduated from the University of Tartu in geology. In 1965 he also finished his ...

(1941–2000), actor and director *

Tanel Ingi Tanel Ingi (born 26 November 1976) is an Estonian stage and film actor who performs primarily at the Ugala theatre. Early life Tanel Ingi was born in Tallinn. In 1995, he began attending the Kopli-Tallinn Art School. He attended the Viljandi ...

(born 1976), actor *

Jüri Järvet Jüri Järvet (18 June 1919 – 5 July 1995) was an Estonian actor. His name sometimes appears as Yuri Yevgenyevich Yarvet, an incorrect back-transliteration from the Russian transliteration Юри Евгеньевич Ярвет. His birthna ...

(1919–1995), actor *

Ülle Kaljuste Ülle Kaljuste (born Ülle Side; 10 April 1957) is an Estonian stage, film, television and radio actress. Early life Born Ülle Side in Tallinn, she attended Tallinn Secondary School No. 2 (Tallinn Reaalkool), graduating in 1975. Afterward, she ...

(born 1957), actress *

Tõnu Kark Tõnu Kark (born on 4 December 1947 in Tallinn) is an Estonian actor. His older brother is actor and caricaturist Feliks Kark. Notable roles Notable film roles: * '' Nest of Winds'' (1979) * '' Metskannikesed'' (1980) * '' Nukitsamees'' (1981) * ...

(born 1947), actor *

Volli Käro Volli Käro (born 13 December 1940) is an Estonian actor who is possibly best known for his long engagement as a stage actor at the Rakvere Theatre in Lääne-Viru County, Estonia. He has also appeared in several film and television roles. Early ...

(born 1940), actor *

(born 1978), supermodel *

Kaljo Kiisk Kaljo Kiisk (3 December 1925 – 20 September 2007) was a Soviet and Estonian actor, film director, screenwriter and politician. He was best known for his roles as Kristjan Lible from ''Spring'' ( et, Kevade), ''Summer'' (''Suvi'') and ''Autu ...

(1925–2007), actor, film director and politician *

Miliza Korjus Miliza Elizabeth Korjus (August 18, 1909(?) – August 26, 1980) was a Polish- Estonian coloratura soprano opera singer, who later appeared in Hollywood films during the Golden Age and in Mexican films during the Golden Age too. Korjus became ...

(1909–1980), opera singer, film actress *

Hele Kõrve Hele Kõrve (until 2009, Hele Kõre; born 7 January 1980) is an Estonian stage, television, film and voice actress and singer. Early life and education Hele Kõrve was born Hele Kõre in 1980 in the town of Jõgeva, in Jõgeva County. She graduat ...

(born 1980), actress, singer *

Risto Kübar Risto Kübar (born 4 December 1983) is an Estonian stage, voice and film actor. Early life and studies Risto Kübar was born in the small borough of Kose. His older brother is sidecar motorcross racer Silver Kübar. He attended Kose Secondary S ...

(born 1983), actor *

Tiiu Kuik Tiiu Kuik () (born 16 March 1987) is an Estonian fashion model. Early life Born in Tallinn, Estonia, Kuik was discovered at age 13 in an Estonian supermarket by model scout Paolo Moglia. She was then sent to Japan for modeling work, and after ...

(born 1987), model * Betty Kuuskemaa (1879–1966), actress * Lia Laats (1926–2004), actress * Lauri Lagle (born 1981), actor, director, screenwriter *

Silvia Laidla Silvia Laidla (20 October 1927 – 3 May 2012) was an Estonian stage, television and film actress whose career spanned nearly six decades. Primarily a stage actress, she also appeared in several Estonian television series and motion pictures. Ea ...

(1927–2012), actress * Anu Lamp (born 1958), actress and director *

Astrid Lepa Astrid Lepa (7 April 1924 – 30 November 2015) was an Estonian stage, television, voice, and film actress, screenwriter, and television director whose career began in the 1940s and ended shortly before her death, spanning over sixty years. Earl ...

(1924–2015), actress and director *

Tiit Lilleorg Tiit Lilleorg (25 November 1941 – 15 January 2021) was an Estonian stage, film and television actor and co-founder and director of the Ida Dance School. Early life Tiit Lilleorg was born in Tartu, Estonia. His father Toivo Lilleorg was a jour ...

(born 1941), actor * Raine Loo (1945–2020), actress *

Aksella Luts Aksella Luts (born Aksella Hildegard Kapsta; 10 October 1905 – 8 January 2005)Ain Lutsepp (born 1954), actor and politician *

Theodor Luts Theodor Luts ( in Palamuse – 24 September 1980 in São Paulo) was an Estonian film director and cinematographer, brother of classic writer Oskar Luts. Theodor Luts was the first major figure of Estonian cinematography His '' Noored kotkad'' ...

(1896–1980), director and cinematographer * Ain Mäeots (born 1971), actor, director, producer *

Laine Mägi Laine Mägi (born Laine Michelson-Adamson; 3 February 1959) is an Estonian stage, film and television actress, dancer and choreographer and dance pedagogue who began her career as a teenager. She is the founder of the Laine Mägi School of Dance ...

(born 1959), actress and choreographer *

Mait Malmsten Mait Malmsten (born 6 September 1972 in Viljandi) is an Estonian actor. Malmsten comes from a family of actors. His father is actor Rein Malmsten. His paternal grandparents were actors Franz Malmsten and Eva Meil. His great-uncle was actor Hugo ...

(born 1972), actor *

Heino Mandri Heino Mandri (11 September 1922 – 3 December 1990) was an Estonian film and stage actor, designated People's Artist of the Estonian SSR (1986). Biography Heino Mandri was born in the independent Republic of Estonia. He studied acting at Tallin ...

(1922–1990), actor *

Konstantin Märska Konstantin Märska ( in Kuressaare, Saaremaa, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire – 30 August 1951 in Tallinn) was an Estonian cinematographer and film director. Märska is buried at the Rahumäe cemetery in Tallinn Tallinn () is the ...

(1896–1951), cinematographer *

Marko Matvere Marko Matvere (born 4 February 1968) is an Estonian actor and singer. He was the lead actor of the Tallinn City Theatre, but left to become a freelance actor in 2004. Biography Matvere was born in Pärnu and graduated from the Tallinn Conserva ...

(born 1968), actor * Laine Mesikäpp (1917–2012), actress, singer, folk song collector *

Mikk Mikiver Mikk Mikiver (4 September 1937 – 9 January 2006) was a prominent Estonian stage and film actor and theater director. Biography Mikiver was born in Tallinn, Estonia. He graduated from the State Conservatory of Tallinn in 1961. He then went on ...

(1937–2006), stage director, actor *

Ornella Muti Ornella Muti (born Francesca Romana Rivelli; 9 March 1955) is an Italian actress. She made her film debut as Francesca Cimarosa in the 1970 film ''La moglie più bella.'' Early life Muti was born in Rome to a Neapolitan journalist father and ...

(born 1955), film actress (Italy) *

Gerd Neggo Gerd or GERD may refer to: * Gerd (given name), a list of people with the given name or nickname * Gerd (moon), a moon of Saturn * Gerd Island, South Orkney Islands, Antarctica * Gastroesophageal reflux disease, a chronic symptom of mucosal dama ...

(1891–1974), dancer, choreographer * Ester Pajusoo (born 1934), actress *

Paul Pinna Paul Pinna (3 October 1884 Tallinn – 29 March 1949 Tallinn) was an Estonian actor and stage director. Since 1899 he started stage activity at the "Estonia" theatre society. 1900s he was related to establish professional Estonia Theatre E ...

(1884–1949), actor, stage director *

Mirtel Pohla Mirtel Pohla (born 28 January 1982) is an Estonian stage, film and television actress. Early life and education Mirtel Pohla was born in Tartu. She attended secondary school at the Tartu Karlova Gümnaasium, graduating in 2000. Afterward, she app ...

(born 1982), actress *

Salme Poopuu Salme Poopuu (18 October 1939 – 13 May 2017) was an Estonian filmmaker and actress. Poopuu's career in the film and television industry spanned nearly fifty years working in a variety of positions, such as an actress, production assistant, prod ...

(1939–2017), actress, filmmaker *

Erik Norkroos Erik Norkroos (born 1 October 1969 in Tallinn)Eesti filmi andmebaas
Retrieved 22 November 2016. is an Estonian ...

(born 1969), cinematographer, producer, editor and director * Kalju Orro (born 1952), actor *

Priit Pärn Priit Pärn (born 26 August 1946 in Tallinn) is an Estonian cartoonist and animation director whose films have enjoyed success among critics as well as the public at various film festivals. Pärn formerly worked as a plant ecologist; his car ...

(born 1946), animated film maker, graphic artist *

Leida Rammo Leida Rammo (18 April 1924 – 23 July 2020) was an Estonian stage, radio, television, and film actress and theatre director whose career spanned over seven decades. Early life and education Leida Rammo was the eldest of two children born in Tall ...

(1924–2020), actress * Elsa Ratassepp (1893–1972), actress *

Tõnis Rätsep Tõnis Rätsep (born 30 June 1947) is an Estonian actor, musician, educator, poet, and playwright. Early life and education Tõnis Rätsep was born in Viljandi, one of two children to a father who was a dairyman and a mother who worked in a dair ...

(born 1947), actor, singer, educator, poet, playwright and author * Evi Rauer (1915–2004), actress *

Salme Reek Salme Reek (10 November 1907 – 9 June 1996) was an Estonian stage, film, radio, and television actress and stage director whose career spanned nearly seventy years; sixty-six of which were spent as an actress at the Estonian Drama Theatre. ...

(1907–1996), actress *

Enn Reitel Enn Reitel (born 21 June 1950) is a Scottish actor who specialises in voice actor, voice work in video games, movies and TV shows. Early life Reitel's family arrived in Scotland as refugees from Estonia and Germany. He trained as an actor at t ...

(born 1950), film actor (UK) *

Jaan Rekkor Jaan Rekkor (born 3 April 1958) is an Estonian stage, film and television actor. Early life and education Jaan Rekkor was born in the small village of Hõreda in Rapla County. He attended schools in Märjamaa, graduating from the Ants Lauter ...

(1958), actor * Moonika Siimets (born 1980), film director * Meeli Sööt (born 1937), actress *

Eero Spriit Eero Spriit (born 4 September 1949), is an Estonian actor, theatre producer and director, and film and television producer. Spriit's career as an actor began in the early 1970s. Early life and education Eero Spriit was born as one of two children ...

(born 1949), actor and producer * Arno Suurorg (1903–1960), actor *

Mena Suvari Mena Alexandra Suvari (; born February 13, 1979) is an American actress, producer, fashion designer and model. After beginning her career as a model and guest-starring on several television shows, she made her film debut in the 1997 drama '' Now ...

(born 1979), actress (USA) *

Aino Talvi Aino Talvi (6 February 1909 – 12 March 1992) was an Estonian stage, film, and radio actress and singer whose career spanned over sixty years. Early life Aino Talvi was born Aino Müller in Tartu to police constable August Müller and Miil ...

(1909–1992), actress *

(born 1967), actress, singer *

Tanel Toom Tanel Toom (born 1 November 1982) is an Estonian director and screenwriter. Toom studied filmmaking at Tallinn University, graduating with a BA in 2005. After that, he worked as a director for commercials and as a first assistant director. In 2 ...

(born 1982), Oscar-nominated film director and screenwriter *

Jaan Tooming Jaan Tooming (born 28 March 1946 in Tallinn) is an Estonian actor, theatre and film director and writer. In 1968 he graduated from the Tallinn State Conservatory (now, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre). From 1969 to 2009 he was an actor a ...

(born 1946), actor, theatre and film director and writer *

Aarne Üksküla Aarne Üksküla (21 September 1937 Tallinn – 29 October 2017) was an Estonian actor and theatre instructor. In 1961 he graduated from Tallinn State Conservatory's Performing Arts Department. Career: * Rakvere Theatre (1961-1968) * Endla Theatr ...

(1937–2017), actor *

Lembit Ulfsak Lembit Ulfsak (4 July 1947 – 22 March 2017) was a prominent Estonian stage and film actor. Ulfsak starred in the 2014 film ''Tangerines'' which was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards. It was also among the ...

(1947–2017), actor *

Olli Ungvere Olli Ungvere (born Olga Marie Birk; 17 June 1906 – 12 December 1991) was an Estonian stage and film actress and singer whose career spanned more than sixty years on the stages of most of Estonia's largest theaters. Early life Born Olga Marie B ...

(1906–1991), actress and singer * Katariina Unt (born 1971), actress *

Ivo Uukkivi Ivo Uukkivi (born 11 October 1965) is an Estonian stage, film, radio, and television actor, television producer and, under the nickname Munk, founder of and singer with the punk rock, punk band Velikije Luki. Early life and education Ivo Uukkivi ...

(born 1965), actor and musician *

Jan Uuspõld Jan Uuspõld (born 14 December 1973) is an Estonian stage, television, radio and film actor and musician. Early life and music career Jan Uuspõld was born in Tallinn, the eldest of three sons of Ingar and Heidi Uuspõld. His mother is an accou ...

(born 1973), actor, musician * Viire Valdma (born 1960), actress * Ragne Veensalu (born 1986), actress *

Kullar Viimne Kullar Viimne (born 22 March 1980 in Võru) is an Estonian director, scriptwriter, editor and cinematographer. Between 2004 - 2011 he studied at the Baltic Film and Media School of Cinema, Tallinn University. Has furthered his education at fi ...

(born 1980), film director and cinematographer *

Evelin Võigemast Evelin Võigemast (until 2007, Evelin Pang; born 22 May 1980) is an Estonian stage, film television and voice actress and singer. Early life and education Born Evelin Pang in Tallinn, her parents were Valdur Pang and Eda Pang (''née'' Taska). Sh ...

(born 1980), actress, singer *

Priit Võigemast Priit Võigemast (born 18 April 1980) is an Estonian film, television and stage actor. Between 2002 and 2007 he has performed in the Ugala, Tallinna Linnateater and other theatres. He is probably best known for the role of Henn Ahas in the 2002 ...

(born 1980), actor

Religion

* Herman (Aav) (1878–1961), head of

Finnish Orthodox Church The Orthodox Church of Finland ( fi, Suomen ortodoksinen kirkko, lit=Finnish Orthodox Church; sv, Ortodoxa kyrkan i Finland, lit=Orthodox Church in Finland; ) is an autonomous Eastern Orthodox archdiocese of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Const ...

Jaan Kiivit, Jr Jaan Kiivit Jr. (19 February 1940 – 31 August 2005) was the Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1994 until 2005. Biography Jaan Kiivit was born on 19 February 1940 in Rakvere in Estonia in the family of the priest and ...

(1940–2005), archbishop * Juhan Leinberg (1812–1885), founder of a religious sect (the Maltsvetians) * Kuno Pajula (1924–2012), archbishop * Andres Põder (born 1949), archbishop * Alexey Ridiger (Patriarch Alexius II, 1929–2008), head of Orthodox Church (Russia) * Arthur Võõbus (1909–1988), theologian, orientalist, church historian

Sport

* Moonika Aava (born 1979), javelin thrower * Arvi Aavik (born 1969), wrestler *

Aleksander Aberg Aleksander Richard Aberg ( – 15 February 1920) was an Estonian professional Greco-Roman and free-style wrestling world champion of the early 20th century. He took part in the World Heavyweight Championship and was one of the three most famous ...

(1881–1920), wrestler * Friedrich Amelung (1842–1909), chess player *

Maret Ani Maret Ani (born 31 January 1982) is a retired tennis player from Estonia. At the start of 2006, she was the top-ranked player in Estonia, before losing that spot to Kaia Kanepi. Ani was a junior basketball champion, but devoted herself to tenni ...

(born 1982), tennis player *

Ants Antson Ants Antson (11 November 1938 – 31 October 2015) was an Estonian speed skater who competed for the Soviet Union. Biography Antson trained at the Kalev Voluntary Sports Society. Coached by former World, Olympic, and European Champion Boris ...

(1938–2015), speedskater, Olympic medalist *

Marko Asmer Marko Asmer (born 30 July 1984) is an Estonian racing driver, who won the British Formula 3 Championship title in 2007. Asmer is also the first Estonian to test a Formula One car, having tested for the Williams BMW team in 2003, after just hal ...

(born 1984), racing driver * Lauri Aus (1970–2003), cyclist * Aleksei Budõlin (born 1976), judoka, Olympic medalist * Toomas Edur (born 1954), NHL hockey player * Jaan Ehlvest (born 1962), chess player *

Eduard Ellman-Eelma Eduard Eelma (7 April 1902 – 16 November 1941) until 1937 Eduard-Vilhelm Ellmann, was an Estonian footballer — one of the most famous before World War II. He played 59 times for Estonia national football team scoring 21 goals. He debuted on ...

(1902–1943), football player *

August Englas August Englas (15 January 1925 – 21 March 2017) was an Estonian wrestler who competed for the Soviet Union. Englas was born in Otepää. In the 1952 Summer Olympics, after defeating Adil Atan, Shirang Vithoba Jadav and Max Leichter, ...

(1925-2017), wrestler *

Gunnar Friedemann Gunnar Friedemann (22 September 1909 in Tallinn – 2 February 1944) was an Estonian chess master. Biography Friedemann played several times in Estonian championships at Tallinn. In 1932, he tied for 3rd-4th with Johannes Türn (4th EST–ch, L ...

(1909–1943), chess player *

Jüri Jaanson Jüri Jaanson (born 14 October 1965) is the most successful Estonian rower of all time and the winner of five medals at World Rowing Championships. He became World Champion in Tasmania 1990 in the single sculls event. 14 years later, at age 3 ...

(born 1965), rower, Olympic medalist *

Georg Hackenschmidt Georg Karl Julius Hackenschmidt ( – 19 February 1968) was an early 20th-century Estonian strongman, professional wrestler, author, and sports philosopher who is recognized as professional wrestling's first world heavyweight champion. Hack ...

(1878–1968), wrestler * Helger Hallik (born 1972), wrestler *

Kaido Höövelson Kaido Höövelson, (known professionally as Baruto Kaito ; born 5 November 1984) is an Estonian politician and former professional sumo wrestler. Making his debut in May 2004, he reached the top division after just two years in sumo in May 200 ...

("Baruto Kaito"; born 1984), sumo wrestler *

Margus Hunt Margus Hunt (born July 14, 1987) is an Estonian professional American football defensive end who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at SMU. He also ...

(born 1987), former discus thrower, former shot putter, American football player * Elvy Kalep (1899–1989), aviator *

Kaia Kanepi Kaia Kanepi (; born 10 June 1985) is an Estonian professional tennis player. She achieved her career-high ranking of world No. 15 on 20 August 2012 and has won four singles titles on the WTA Tour. Described as a 'resident Grand Slam upset speci ...

(born 1985), tennis player * Meelis Kanep (born 1983), chess grandmaster *

Gerd Kanter Gerd Kanter (born 6 May 1979) is a retired Estonian discus throw The discus throw (), also known as disc throw, is a track and field event in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance th ...

(born 1979), discus thrower, Olympic medalist * Osvald Käpp (1905–1995), wrestler, Olympic medalist *

Paul Keres Paul Keres (; 7 January 1916 – 5 June 1975) was an Estonian chess grandmaster and chess writer. He was among the world's top players from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s, and narrowly missed a chance at a World Chess Championship match on five ...

(1916–1975), chess player *

Lionel Kieseritzky Lionel Adalbert Bagration Felix Kieseritzky (russian: Лионель Адальберт Багратион Феликс Кизерицкий; – ) was a Baltic German chess master and theoretician, famous for his contributions to chess theory, ...

(1806–1853), chess player *

Jaan Kikkas Juhan "Jaan" Kikkas (5 June 1892 – 9 March 1944) was an Estonian middleweight weightlifter. He won a bronze medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics The 1924 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1924), officially the Games of the VI ...

(1892–1944), weightlifter, Olympic medalist *

Jaan Kirsipuu Jaan Kirsipuu (born 17 July 1969 in Tartu) is an Estonian former road bicycle racer, who currently works as a directeur sportif for UCI Continental team . He spent the majority of his career riding under the management of Vincent Lavenu, initial ...

(born 1969), cyclist * Martin Klein (1884–1947), wrestler, Olympic medalist *

Aleksander Klumberg Aleksander Klumberg (since 1936 Kolmpere; 17 April 1899 – 10 February 1958) was an Estonian decathlete. He competed in several events at the 1920 and 1924 Olympics and won a bronze medal in the decathlon in 1924. In 1922 he became the first of ...

(1899–1958), decathlete, Olympic medalist *

Leo Komarov Leonid Aleksandrovich Komarov (russian: Леонид Александрович Комаров, fi, Leonid "Leo" Aleksandrovitš Komarov; born 23 January 1987) is a professional ice hockey centre for Luleå HF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL ...

(born 1987), ice hockey player *

Anett Kontaveit Anett Kontaveit (; born 24 December 1995) is an Estonian professional tennis player. She has been ranked as high as world No. 2 by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), which she first achieved on 6 June 2022, making her the highest-ranked Eston ...

(born 1995), tennis player * Anton Koolmann (1899–1953), wrestler *

Johannes Kotkas Johannes Kotkas (3 February 1915 – 8 May 1998) was a heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler from Estonia who won a gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics. He held the European title in 1938, 1939 and 1947 and placed second at the 1953 world champion ...

(1915–1998), wrestler, Olympic medalist * Albert Kusnets (1902–1942), wrestler, Olympic medalist * Marko Kristal (born 1973), football player *

Leho Laurine Leho Laurine (Leo Laurentius) (28 August 1904, St. Petersburg – 31 January 1998, Stockholm) was an Estonian chess master. He was Estonian Champion in 1932 (4th EST-ch), and took 3rd in 1935, behind Paul Keres, and Gunnar Friedemann (7th EST- ...

(1904–1998), chess player *

Tanel Leok Tanel Leok (born 1 June 1985) is an Estonian professional motocross racer. He has competed in the Motocross World Championships since 2001. Early life Tanel was born in Võru, Estonia and currently resides in Balen, Belgium. His father, Arvo ...

(born 1985), motocross rider * Siim Liivik (born 1988), ice hockey player *

Joel Lindpere Joel Lindpere (born 5 October 1981) is an Estonian football coach and former professional player. Lindpere played as a midfielder for Nõmme Kalju, Lelle, Flora, Valga, CSKA Sofia, Tromsø, New York Red Bulls, Chicago Fire, and Baník Ostra ...

(born 1981), footballer for New York Red Bulls and the Estonian National Team * Heino Lipp (1922–2006), decathlete *

Jüri Lossmann Jüri Lossmann ( – 1 May 1984) was an Estonian Long-distance running, long distance runner. He finished second in the marathon at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, at 2:32:48.6, trailing Hannes Kolehmainen by 13 seconds, but beating the thi ...

(1891–1984), long distance runner, Olympic medalist *

Arnold Luhaäär Arnold Luhaäär (20 October 1905 – 19 January 1965) was an Estonian heavyweight weightlifter. He competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics and 1936 Summer Olympics and won a silver and a bronze medal, respectively. He missed the 1932 games because ...

(1905–1965), weightlifter, Olympic medalist *

Georg Lurich Georg Lurich ( – 20 January 1920) was an Estonian Greco-Roman wrestler and strongman of the early 20th century. Lurich was also the trainer of Estonian wrestlers and weightlifters Georg Hackenschmidt and Aleksander Aberg. Early life Born Geo ...

(1876–1920), wrestler *

Epp Mäe Epp Mäe (born 2 April 1992) is an Estonian freestyle wrestler. She won the silver medal in the women's 76 kg event at the 2021 World Wrestling Championships held in Oslo, Norway. She won a bronze medal at the 2015, 2019 and 2022 World Wrestl ...

(born 1992), wrestler *

Jaak Mae Jaak Mae (born February 25, 1972) is an Estonian cross-country skier who has competed since 1994. He won a bronze in the 15 km event at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Mae won a silver medal in the 15 km event at the 2003 ...

(born 1972), skier, Olympic medalist *

Markko Märtin Markko Märtin (born 10 November 1975 in Tartu) is a retired rally driver from Estonia, who competed in the World Rally Championship from 2000 until 2005. Career Märtin, as understudy to then-team mates Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz, rose to ...

(born 1975), rally driver *

Tarmo Mitt Tarmo Mitt (born 22 May 1977) is an Estonian professional strongman competitor and regular entrant to the World's Strongest Man competition. He was a finalist, finishing inside the top ten, in four consecutiv ...

(born 1977), World Strong Man *

Martin Müürsepp Martin Müürsepp (; born 26 September 1974) is an Estonian professional basketball coach and former player, who is the head coach of BC Rakvere Tarvas of the Estonian-Latvian Basketball League. Widely regarded as one of Estonia's greatest bas ...

(born 1974), basketball player *

Heiki Nabi Heiki Nabi (born 6 June 1985) is an Estonian Olympic champion Greco-Roman wrestler. Nabi was born in Hilleste, Hiiumaa. At the 2006 World Wrestling Championships he won the gold medal in the men's Greco-Roman (96 kg) category and became ...

(born 1985), wrestler, Olympic medalist *

Iivo Nei Iivo Nei (born 31 October 1931 in Tartu) is an Estonian chess master.NEI, IIVO
esbl.ee (biography in Estonian) In 1947, ...

(born 1931), chess player *

August Neo August "Ago" Neo (12 February 1908 – 19 August 1982) was an Estonian wrestler who won two medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics: a silver medal in the freestyle wrestling and a bronze in Greco-Roman wrestling. His achievements were underscored b ...

(1908–1982), wrestler, Olympic medalist * Alfred Neuland (1895–1966), weightlifter, Olympic medalist *

Erki Nool Erki Nool (born 25 June 1970, in Võru, Estonia) is an Estonian decathlete and former politician. Life and career Nool grew up in an impoverished environment in the southern part of Võru. His father was a worker in a furniture factory and his ...

(born 1970), decathlete, Olympic medalist * Mati Nuude (1941–2001), weightlifter and singer *

Tõnu Õim Tõnu Õim (born 16 June 1941) is an Estonian grandmaster of correspondence chess, most famous for being the first to have won the ICCF World Championship twice, in 1983 and 1999. In 1991 he won the Axelson Memorial.Lembit Oll (1966–1999), chess player *

Andres Oper Andres Oper (born 7 November 1977) is an Estonian football coach and former professional player. He is currently an assistant manager of Estonia national team. Oper played as a forward for Lelle, Flora, Tervis Pärnu, AaB, Torpedo Moscow, ...

(born 1977), football player *

Kristjan Palusalu Kristjan Palusalu (until 1935 Kristjan Trossmann, – 17 July 1987) was an Estonian heavyweight wrestler and Olympic winner. Palusalu became the first and only wrestler in Olympic history ever to win both the Greco-Roman and freestyle heavy wei ...

(1908–1987), wrestler, Olympic medalist *

Indrek Pertelson Indrek Pertelson (born 21 April 1971) is an Estonian judoka. At the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics he won bronze medals in the men's Heavyweight (+100 kg) category. He was born in Tallinn Tallinn () is the most populous and capital cit ...

(born 1971), judoka, Olympic medalist * Mart Poom (born 1972), football player *

Eduard Pütsep Eduard Pütsep (21 October 1898 – 22 August 1960) was an Estonian wrestler. He competed in Greco-Roman wrestling in the 1920, 1924 and 1928 Olympics and won a gold medal in the bantamweight division in 1924, becoming the first Olympic champion ...

(1898–1960), wrestler, Olympic medalist *

Kristjan Rahnu Kristjan Rahnu (born 29 August 1979 in Kohila) is a retired Estonian decathlete. His personal best dates back to 2005 when he did 8526 points in France, Arles Arles (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Arle ; Classical la, Arelate) is a coastal ...

(born 1979), decathlete *

Ilmar Raud Ilmar Raud (30 April 1913 – 13 July 1941) was an Estonian chess master. Biography Raud was born in Viljandi, Estonia. He played several times in the Estonian championships at Tallinn. In 1933, he tied for 3rd-5th at the 5th EST–ch. The event ...

(1913–1941), chess player *

Michael Roos Michael Roos (born Mihkel Roos, October 5, 1982) is a former football offensive tackle who played his entire career for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Titans in the second round of the 2005 NFL ...

(Mihkel Roos, born 1982),

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...

player *

Salme Rootare Salme Rootare (March 26, 1913, Tallinn – October 21, 1987) was an Estonian chess master. She was fifteen times Estonian Champion (1945, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1972). Salme tied for 4-5 ...

(1913–1987), chess player *

Vidrik Rootare Vidrik "Frits" Rootare (born in Tallinn, Estonia August 20, 1906 – March 5, 1981) was an Estonian chess player. His wife, Salme Rootare, was also an Estonian chess player, 15-time Estonian Champion and a Women's International Master (WIM). ...

(c. 1900–1985), chess player *

Sven Salumaa Sven Salumaa (born on October 21, 1966) is a former professional tour tennis player who mostly played tour tennis in doubles. Tour career Salumaa was born in Huntington, New York to Eduard and Tamara Salumaa who were immigrants from Estonia. ...

(born 1966), tennis player *

Erika Salumäe Erika Salumäe (born 11 June 1962) is an Estonian track bicycle racer who won the first Olympic gold medal for Estonia after the country regained independence in 1991. Salumäe was born in Pärnu, Estonia. She trained at VSS Kalev in Tallinn ...

(born 1962), cyclist, Olympic medalist *

Jane Salumäe Jane Salumäe (born 17 January 1968, in Tallinn) is a retired female long-distance runner from Estonia, who twice competed in the Summer Olympics (1996 and 2004). Biography She set her personal best (2:27:04) in the marathon on May 11, 1997 in ...

(born 1968), marathon runner *

Ortvin Sarapu Ortvin Sarapu (born Ortvin Sarapuu; 22 January 1924 – 13 April 1999), known in New Zealand as "Mr Chess", was an Estonian-born chess player who emigrated to New Zealand and won or shared the New Zealand Chess Championship 20 times from 1 ...

(1924–1999), chess player (New Zealand) * Roman Steinberg (1900–1928), wrestler, Olympic medalist * Alfred Schmidt (1898–1972), weightlifter, Olympic medalist *

Paul Felix Schmidt Paul Felix Schmidt ( – 11 August 1984) was an Estonian and German chess player, writer and chemist. Biography In June 1935, Schmidt won, ahead of Paul Keres, at Tallinn. In May 1936, he drew a match against Keres (+3 –3 =1) at Pärnu. In 1 ...

(1916–1984), chess player *

Kristina Šmigun-Vähi Kristina Šmigun-Vähi (born 23 February 1977) is a former Estonian female cross-country skier and politician. She is the most successful Estonian female cross-country skier with two Olympic gold medals. In 2019 she was elected as a Member of th ...

(born 1977), skier, Olympic medalist *

Tiit Sokk Tiit Sokk (born 15 November 1964) is a retired Estonian professional basketball player and current coach. Often cited as one of the very best European point guards of his generation, he is widely recognized as the greatest Estonian basketball p ...

(born 1964), basketball player (1988 Olympic gold medalist for USSR) *

Yuval Spungin Yuval Spungin (or Yuval Shpungin, he, יובל שפונגין; born 3 April 1987) is an Israeli footballer who plays for Hapoel Kfar Shalem F.C., Hapoel Kfar Shalem. He has played for the Israel national under-17 football team, the Israel nation ...

(born 1987), Israeli footballer *

Nikolai Stepulov Nikolai Stepulov (20 March 1913 – 2 January 1968) was an Estonian lightweight boxer, military officer and criminal. As a boxer he won silver medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin and 1937 European Championships, and fought professionally ...

(1913–1968), boxer, Olympic medalist *

Toivo Suursoo Toivo Suursoo (born 13 November 1975) is an Estonian ice hockey coach and former professional player. Suursoo was selected by the Detroit Red Wings with the 283rd overall pick in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, becoming the first player born in Estoni ...

(born 1975), ice hockey player *

Jaan Talts Jaan Talts (born 19 May 1944) is a former Estonian weightlifter. He competed for the Soviet Union at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics and won a silver and a gold medal, respectively. Throughout his career, Talts won two world and four European titles ...

(born 1944), weightlifter, Olympic medalist *

(1899–1942), journalist, athlete, weightlifter, Olympic medalist *

Aleksander Tammert Aleksander Tammert (born 2 February 1973) is an Estonian discus thrower. Athletics career Tammert competed at the 2004 Olympics and originally finishing fourth, but as gold medal winner Róbert Fazekas was disqualified, Tammert received the br ...

(born 1973), discus thrower, Olympic medalist *

Ott Tänak Ott Tänak (; born 15 October 1987) is an Estonian rally driver and the 2019 World Rally Champion. He is currently teamed with Martin Järveoja and is competing for Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT. Tänak achieved his maiden drivers' world title in ...

(born 1987), rally driver *

Jüri Tarmak Jüri Tarmak (21 July 1946 – 22 June 2022)Suri olümpiavõitja Jüri Tarmak

(born 1946), high jumper, Olympic medalist * Tõnu Tõniste (born 1967), yachtsman, businessman, Olympic medalist * Toomas Tõniste (born 1967), yachtsman, businessman, Olympic medalist *

Johannes Türn Johannes Türn (27 May 1899, in Tartu – 8 March 1993, in Tallinn) was an Estonian chess player. Biography Türn played in numerous Estonian championships. In 1923, he took 2nd, behind Paul Rinne, in Tallinn (1st EST-ch). In 1925, he won in Ta ...

(1898–1993), chess player *

Voldemar Väli Voldemar Väli (10 January 1903 – 13 April 1997) was an Estonian two-time Olympic medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling. Career Voldemar Väli was born in Kuressaare, on the island of Saaremaa. He began training in wrestling at age 17, and four ...

(1903–1997), wrestler, Olympic medalist *

Andrus Värnik Andrus Värnik (born 27 September 1977) is a retired Estonian track and field athlete who competed in the javelin throw. He is a World Champion, having 2005 World Championships in Athletics – Men's javelin throw, won gold in 2005 World Champions ...

(born 1977), javelin thrower *

Andrus Veerpalu Andrus Veerpalu (born 8 February 1971) is a retired Estonian cross-country skier. He is Estonia's most successful Winter Olympian, having won the gold medal in men's 15 km classical in 2002 and 2006, and silver in men's 50 km classical in 20 ...

(born 1971), skier, Olympic medalist *

Siim-Sander Vene Siim-Sander Vene (born 12 November 1990) is an Estonian professional basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the Basketball Champions League. Standing at 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in), he plays both the small ...

(born 1990), Estonian basketball player for

Hapoel Jerusalem Hapoel Jerusalem is a sport organization in Jerusalem as a local branch of the Hapoel movement. The branch was established in the 1920s and represents the city in more sports than any other sport organization in Jerusalem. Today, the club's leadi ...

of the

Israeli Premier League The Israeli Premier League ( he, ליגת העל, ''Ligat Ha`Al'', ), is a professional association football league which operates as the highest division of the Israeli Football League – the state's league of Israel. The league is contested b ...

Visual arts

* Priidu Aavik (1905–1991), painter *

Amandus Adamson Amandus Heinrich Adamson (12 November 1855 in Uuga-Rätsepa, near Paldiski, Estonia, then Russian Empire — 26 June 1929 in Paldiski, Estonia) was an Estonian sculptor and painter. Life Born into a seafaring family, Adamson excelled in wood ca ...

(1855–1929), sculptor *

Adamson-Eric Erich Carl Hugo Adamson (more commonly known as Adamson-Eric; 18 August 1902 – 2 December 1968) was an Estonian artist who worked mainly within the medium of painting in applied art. Life Erich Carl Hugo Adamson was born 18 August 1902 in Ta ...

(Erich Adamson, 1902–1968), painter *

Ellinor Aiki Ellinor Aiki (11 January 1893 – 25 October 1969)Vaal Galeri.
Retrieved 12 May 2016. wa ...

(1893–1969), painter * Arnold Akberg (1894–1984), painter *

Peeter Allik Peeter Allik (June 28, 1966 in Põltsamaa – December 31, 2019 in Tartu) was an Estonian artist and Surrealist ( black and white dactyloscopic tendency). He graduated from University of Tartu. In 1997, he became the first laureate of Ado Va ...

(1966–2019), painter, black and white artist * Efraim Allsalu (1929–2006), painter * Jüri Arrak (born 1936), painter *

Alfred Hirv Alfred Hirv (26 March 1880 – 26 May 1918) was an Estonian painter, known especially for his still lifes. For a time he studied with Julius von Klever in Saint Petersburg; further studies took him to Rome and Munich, where he studied at the ...

(1880–1918), painter * Raivo Järvi (1954–2012), illustrator, politician * Mati Karmin (born 1959), sculptor *

Elmar Kits Elmar Kits ( 1913 – 24 March 1972) was an Estonian painter.Ants Juskhttp://www.epl.ee/news/kultuur/elmar-kits-andekas.d?id=51141267/ref> References 1913 births 1972 deaths People from Tartu People from the Governorate of Livonia 20 ...

(1913–1972), painter *

Johann Köler Johann Köler (8 March 1826 – 22 April 1899) was a leader of the Estonian national awakening and a painter. He is considered as the first professional painter of the emerging nation. He distinguished himself primarily by his portraiture and to ...

(1826–1899), painter * Andres Koort (born 1969), painter and scenographer *

Mark Kostabi Kalev Mark Kostabi (born November 27, 1960) is an American artist and composer. Early life Kostabi was born in Los Angeles on November 27, 1960, to Estonian immigrants Kaljo and Rita Kostabi. He was raised in Whittier, California and studied dra ...

(Kalev Mark Kostabi, born 1960), painter (United States) * Meeli Kõiva (born 1960), painter, installation and light artist, sculptor, cinematographer, producer and film director (Finland, United States) *

Ants Laikmaa Ants Laikmaa (5 May 1866 – 19 November 1942) was an Estonian painter.lla Rosenfeld, Norton T. Dodge, Jane Voorhees, ''Art of the Baltics: The Struggle for Freedom of Artistic Expression Under the Soviets, 1945-1991'', Rutgers University Press, ...

(1866–1943), painter *

(born 1947), graphic, painter, sculptor, architect * Ivo Lill (1953–2019), glass artist * Olav Maran (born 1933), artist * Marko Mäetamm (born 1965), painter *

Konrad Mägi Konrad Vilhelm Mägi (1 November 1878 – 15 August 1925) was an Estonian painter, primarily known for his landscape work. He was one of the most colour-sensitive Estonian painters of the first decades of the 20th century, and Mägi's works on ...

(1878–1925), painter *

Kadri Mälk Kadri Mälk (27 January 1958 – 1 January 2023) was an Estonian artist and jewellery designer. Life and career Mälk was born in Tallinn and began her studies at the Tartu Art School in 1977 and graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts in 19 ...

(born 1958), jewelry artist * Lydia Mei (1896–1965), painter * Natalie Mei (1900–1975), painter * Juhan Muks (1899–1983), painter * Evald Okas (1915–2011), painter * Eduard Ole (1898–1995), painter * Ludvig Oskar (1874–1951), painter *

Ülo Õun Ülo Õun (30 April 1940 – 7 March 1988) was an Estonian sculptor whose career began in the late 1960s and came to prominence in the 1970s. Õun mainly worked as a portrait and figural sculptor and was known for his works in colored plaster and ...

(1940–1988), sculptor *

Tiit Pääsuke Tiit Pääsuke (born 22 December 1941) is an Estonian painter. Pääsuke was born in Põltsamaa, Põltsamaa Parish, in Jõgeva County Jõgeva County ( et, Jõgeva maakond or ''Jõgevamaa'') is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is situated in ...

(born 1941), painter *

Karl Pärsimägi Karl Pärsimägi (11 May 1902 – 27 July 1942) was an Estonian Fauvist painter. He was murdered in Auschwitz concentration camp after being arrested in Paris. Biography Karl Pärsimägi was born in Oe, Antsla Parish in 1902, Pärsimägi wa ...

(1902–1942), painter * Kaljo Põllu (born 1934), painter, graphic artist *

Kristjan Raud Kristjan Raud (22 October 1865, Kirikuküla, Vinni Parish – 19 May 1943, Tallinn) was an Estonian symbolist painter and illustrator who was one of the founders of the Estonian National Museum. Folklore elements figure heavily in his subject m ...

(1865–1943), graphic artist *

Paul Raud Paul Raud ( in Kirikuküla, Viru-Jaagupi Parish – 22 November 1930 in Tallinn) was an Estonian painter. Life and works The twin brother of painter Kristjan Raud, he studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf beginning in 1886, becoming influenc ...

(1865–1930), painter * Enn Roos (1908–1990), sculptor *

Endel Ruberg Endel Ruberg (21 May 1917 – 29 December 1989) was an Estonian-Canadian artist, naturalist, and humanitarian. He is best known for his leather and watercolour artwork as well as his volunteer work with children. Biography Endel Ruberg was bor ...

(1917–1989), artist, educator *

Richard Sagrits Richard Sagrits (19 December 1910 in Karepa – 11 December 1968 in Tallinn) was an Estonian painter. Sagrits (with Elmar Kits and Evald Okas) painted the ceiling of the Estonian National Opera in the style of Socialist Realism in 1947. His ...

(1910–1968), painter * Michel Sittow (1469–1525), painter * Ülo Sooster (1924–1970), painter * Anton Starkopf (1889–1966), sculptor * Aleksander Tassa (1882–1955), artist and writer * Jaan Toomik (born 1961), painter *

Nikolai Triik Nikolai Voldemar Triik (7 August 1884, Tallinn – 12 August 1940, Tallinn) was an Estonian Modern art, Modernist painter, graphic artist, printmaker and professor. His work displays elements of Symbolism (art), Symbolism and Expressionism. Bio ...

(1884–1940), painter * Teodor Ussisoo (1878–1959), furniture designer * Helge Uuetoa (1936–2008), painter * Aleksander Uurits (1888–1918), painter, graphic artist * Ado Vabbe (1892–1961), painter * Kuno Veeber (1898–1929), painter * Edmund S. Valtman (1914–2005), cartoonist (USA) * Annes Varjun (1907–1986), ceramic artist * Eduard Viiralt (Eduard Wiiralt, 1898–1954), graphic artist * Kiino Villand (born 1969), photographer (USA) *

Ilon Wikland Maire-Ilon Wikland (née Pääbo; born February 5, 1930) is an Estonian-born Swedish artist and illustrator. Wikland was born in Tartu, Estonia and raised in Haapsalu, Lääne County on Estonia's Baltic coast. In 1944 she escaped with the famil ...

(born 1930), illustrator (Sweden)

Other

Mari Raamot Mari Raamot (birth name Mari Tamm; August 6, 1872 in Kiltsi, Tarvastu Parish (now Viljandi Parish), Kreis Fellin – March 12, 1966 in New York City) was an Estonian Socialism, socialist, homemaker, and founder of the Estonian women's national de ...

(1872–1966), activist