Urho Kekkonen
| Urho Kaleva Kekkonen | |
|---|---|
| 8th President of Finland | |
| Political party | Centre Party |
| Preceded by | J.K. Paasikivi |
| Succeeded by | Mauno Koivisto |
| Born | September 3, 1900 Pielavesi, Finland |
| Died | August 31, 1986 Helsinki, Finland |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
Urho Kaleva Kekkonen (1900—1986), often referred to as just Kekkonen, was the 8th president of Finland from March 1, 1956 to January 27, 1982. He also served as the Prime Minister of Finland and Speaker of the Finnish Parliament.
Biography
Urho Kaleva Kekkonen was born on September 3, 1900 in Pielavesi, Finland, the son of Juho Kekkonen and Emilia Pylvänäinen. He spent his childhood in Kainuu, Finland.
In 1921, at the age of 21, Kekkonen moved to Helsinki to study law, and in 1927 he became a lawyer.
Kekkonen joined the Centre Party of Finland in 1933. He made an unsuccessful attempt at getting elected to the Finnish Parliament in the mid-1930s.
He became the president of Finland in 1956.
Urho Kaleva Kekkonen died in August 31, 1986 at the age of 85.