Kyosti Kallio (10 April 1873 – 19 December 1940) was Prime Minister of Finland four times between 1922 and 1937 and President of Finland from 1 March 1937 to 19 December 1940, succeeding P.E. Svinhufvud and preceding Risto Ryti.
Biography[]
Kyosti Kallio was born on 10 April 1873 in Ylivieska, Finland, Russian Empire. Kallio served in the Diet of Finland from 1904 to 1906 and supported the White Army during the Finnish Civil War against the Soviet Union and communists, forming a new government in Helsinki after German troops captured the city. Kallio joined the Center Party of Finland and served as Prime Minister on many occasions, opposing the Communist Party of Finland; when he refused to join the radical nationalist Lapua Movement, he received death threats from them. Kallio became President of Finand on 1 March 1937, leading Finland during the Winter War against the Soviet Union. He opposed a peace settlement with the Soviets, but he was forced to cede Karelia to the Russians. Kallio died of a stroke on 19 December 1940, and Risto Ryti replaced him as President.