Jānis Čakste
1859–1927 (age 68)
Biography
Jānis Čakste devoted his life to the rule of law and the emergence of an independent Latvian state, first as a respected lawyer and later as the nation’s inaugural president. His measured leadership helped steady Latvia through its earliest struggles.
Even after statehood was won, Čakste remained a reassuring presence who championed civic responsibility while fostering unity across the young republic.