Dag Hammarskjold

1905- 1961

Swedish Diplomat, U.N. Sec. General

Swedish statesman Dag Hammarskjold was born in Jönköping on July 25 1905. He started his career as an assistant professor. From 1941 to 1948 he was the chairman of the Bank of Sweden and from 1951 to 1953 he served as Sweden's Deputy Foreign Minister.

In 1953, Hammarskjold was elected UN Secretary-General and was re-elected in 1957. His activities as Secretary-General enhanced the standing of the UN. His handling of the Congo Crisis caused the Soviets to make an unsuccessful attempt to have him removed. He died in a plane crash in the Congo.