Johan Vilhelm Snellman

Johan Vilhelm Snellman (1806-1881) was a Finnish (Fennoman of Swedish origin) writer, philosopher and statesman. Born in Stockholm, Sweden, where his father Kristian Henrik Snellman, was a ship's captain. His mother Maria Magdalena died when he was only eight years old.

Snellman was a professor at the University of Helsinki, when he in 1863 was called to serve as a senator, a cabinet post in the Grand duchy of Finland. It was a role he served with distinction until resigning in 1868 and it had been thanks to him that, in 1865, the Markka was introduced as the currency in Finland.

In 1842 Snellman published his foremost work "Läran om staten" (Study of the State). Snellman's acquaintances included Johan Ludvig Runeberg and Elias Lönnrot.

See also: List of Finns