Dag Hammarskjöld, the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, was a Swedish diplomat and economist. He held the position from 1953 until his tragic death in a plane crash in 1961, making him the only UN Secretary-General to die while in office. Despite his young age, Hammarskjöld was highly regarded and considered one of the organization’s best Secretary-Generals. He was even hailed as “the greatest statesman of our century” by US President John F. Kennedy. Influenced by his father’s ideals, Hammarskjöld believed in dedicating his life to selfless service for his country and humanity. After completing his law degree at Uppsala University, he embarked on a successful career as a Swedish public servant. His remarkable contributions led to his appointment as the UN Secretary-General in 1953. Tragically, Hammarskjöld’s life was cut short, but his legacy lives on. In recognition of his efforts, he was posthumously awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1961.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld
- Died At Age: 56
- Family: father: Hjalmar Hammarskjöld
- Diplomats
- Economists
- Height: 1.79 m
- Died on: September 18, 1961
- Place of death: Ndola, Zambia
- Cause of Death: Airplane Crash
- Notable Alumni: Stockholm University
- Education: Uppsala University, Stockholm University
- Awards: Nobel Peace Prize
Childhood & Early Life
Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld was born on 29 July 1905 in Jönköping, Sweden. He was the fourth and youngest son of Hjalmar Hammarskjöld and Agnes Hammarskjöld (née Almquist). His father, a prominent politician, later served as the Prime Minister of Sweden and was chairman of the Board of the Nobel Foundation.
Dag Hammarskjöld studied at Katedralskolan and then at Uppsala University, where he earned a degree in humanities in 1925. He went on to complete a second degree in economics three years later. He also studied law and completed his degree in 1930. During this time, he served as the Secretary of a governmental committee on unemployment. He had a wide range of interests, including poetry, music, painting, mountaineering, skiing, and gymnastics.
Career
Hammarskjöld embarked on a successful career as a Swedish public servant. He became the Secretary of the Sveriges Riksbank in 1936 and quickly rose up the ranks, serving as Chairman of the bank from 1941 to 1948. He also held various positions in the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including financial adviser, Cabinet Secretary, and deputy foreign minister. Throughout his career, he promoted international economic cooperation and played a major role in coordinating government plans to alleviate economic problems after World War II. He represented Sweden as a delegate to the United Nations and was Vice Chairman of the Swedish delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in Paris.
In 1953, Hammarskjöld was elected Secretary-General of the United Nations for a five-year term. He was the first to be elected unanimously to the position. He was re-elected in 1957. As Secretary-General, he established his own secretariat and set up regulations that defined their responsibilities. He also played a vital role in attempting to ease relations between Israel and the Arab states, negotiating the release of captured US pilots from China, and defusing the Suez Canal crisis. He directed the establishment of the UN Observation Group in Lebanon and the UN Office in Jordan, which led to the withdrawal of American and British troops.
Major Works
Hammarskjöld was praised for his commitment to peace during the civil war in the Congo. He made four trips to the newly independent African country to address social and political problems. He was in charge of operations of the UN peacekeeping force. Despite criticism and pressure to resign from the Soviet Union, he remained steadfast in his efforts.
Awards & Achievements
Dag Hammarskjöld posthumously received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1961. He was recognized for building up an efficient and independent UN Secretariat and for taking an independent line towards the great powers.
Personal Life & Legacy
Dag Hammarskjöld was believed to be homosexual, although there is no conclusive evidence to support this claim. He tragically died in a plane crash on 18 September 1961 while on his way to negotiate a cease-fire during the Congo crisis. Some recent evidence suggests that the plane may have been shot down. In his honor, the U.N. Security Council established the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal in recognition and commemoration of those who have lost their lives as a result of UN peacekeeping operations.