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Augusts KirhensteinsLatvian Soviet statesman
Date of Birth: 18.09.1872
Country:  Latvia |
Content:
- Biography of August Kirchenstein
- Scientific and Academic Career
- Political Career
- Personal Life and Recognition
Biography of August Kirchenstein
August Kirchenstein was a Latvian Soviet statesman, scientist, and academic. He was born in the village of Mazsalaca in what is now the Valmiera district of Latvia, into a peasant family. In 1902, he graduated from the University of Juriev (now Tartu University in Estonia). Kirchenstein participated in revolutionary activities and emigrated abroad in 1905. He returned to Latvia in 1917 and continued to be involved in the revolutionary movement.
Scientific and Academic Career
Kirchenstein was engaged in scientific and pedagogical work and was one of the founders of the University of Latvia and the Latvian Agricultural Academy. From 1923, he served as a professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Latvia. He authored scientific works in the fields of microbiology and vitaminology.
Political Career
In 1940, Kirchenstein was appointed by Soviet emissary A. Vyshinsky as the Prime Minister of the puppet government of Latvia, known as the People's Government of Latvia, with the powers of the president. After Latvia's annexation to the USSR, he became the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR from 1940 to 1952, as well as Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from 1941 to 1952. In 1941, he joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
Kirchenstein concurrently served as the director of the Institute of Microbiology of the Latvian Academy of Sciences from 1946. From 1951 to 1958, he held the position of Vice President of the Latvian SSR Academy of Sciences.
Personal Life and Recognition
August Kirchenstein was the brother of Rudolf Kirchenstein, a Soviet intelligence officer who was repressed in 1937. Kirchenstein was awarded six Orders of Lenin and was recognized as a Hero of Socialist Labor in 1957.
