Alfred Kordelin
Encyclopedia
Alfred Kordelin was a Finnish
industrialist, businessman, entrepreneur, and a major philanthropist. Kordelin was one of the richest Finnish entrepreneurs of his time.
Kordelin had little formal education. He was the son of a poor seaman from Rauma. Kordelin invested wisely in the fields of weaving, shipbuilding and metalworking, becoming one of Finland's richest men. Risto Ryti
, who later became President of Finland
, was Alfred Kordelin's legal advisor and close friend.
Kordelin owned the Mommila and Jokioinen
manor houses and a steammill in Reposaari
. He invested a large amount of money in different companies. He built a summerhouse in Naantali
, called Kultaranta. Kultaranta is currently owned by the Government of Finland
, and used as the President's summer residence. Kordelin himself spent only one summer at Kultaranta. On 7 November 1917, Kordelin was kidnapped by a group of Red Guards
and was murdered by a Russian sailor in the so-called Mommila skirmish that followed.
Kordelin was not married and was childless. Upon his death he bequeathed all his property to a Finnish cultural foundation in his will. With this money the Alfred Kordelin Foundation was later founded. The foundation gives out several million euros annually in grants and awards to promote literature, science, art, and public education in Finland.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
industrialist, businessman, entrepreneur, and a major philanthropist. Kordelin was one of the richest Finnish entrepreneurs of his time.
Kordelin had little formal education. He was the son of a poor seaman from Rauma. Kordelin invested wisely in the fields of weaving, shipbuilding and metalworking, becoming one of Finland's richest men. Risto Ryti
Risto Ryti
Risto Heikki Ryti was the fifth President of Finland, from 1940 to 1944. Ryti started his career as a politician in the field of economics and as a political background figure during the interwar period. He made a wide range of international contacts in the world of banking and within the...
, who later became President of Finland
President of Finland
The President of the Republic of Finland is the nation's head of state. Under the Finnish constitution, executive power is vested in the President and the government, with the President possessing extensive powers. The President is elected directly by the people of Finland for a term of six years....
, was Alfred Kordelin's legal advisor and close friend.
Kordelin owned the Mommila and Jokioinen
Jokioinen
Jokioinen is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Tavastia Proper region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
manor houses and a steammill in Reposaari
Reposaari
Reposaari is an island at the Kokemäenjoki rivers mouth in Pori, Finland.It is connected with the Finnish mainland by three bridges. It is mainly harbour and industrial area....
. He invested a large amount of money in different companies. He built a summerhouse in Naantali
Naantali
Naantali is a city in south-western Finland, known as one of the most important tourist centres of the country. The municipality has a population of , and is located in the region of Finland Proper, west of Turku....
, called Kultaranta. Kultaranta is currently owned by the Government of Finland
Government of Finland
Finland is a republic with a representative democracy governed accordingly to the principles of parliamentarism. Legislative power is vested in the Parliament of Finland . Executive power is exercised by the Cabinet, officially termed Council of State , which is led by the Prime Minister, the Head...
, and used as the President's summer residence. Kordelin himself spent only one summer at Kultaranta. On 7 November 1917, Kordelin was kidnapped by a group of Red Guards
Red Guards (Finland)
The Red Guards formed the army of Red Finland during the Finnish Civil War in 1918. The combined strength of the Red Guard was about 30,000 at the beginning of the Civil War, and peaked at 90,000-120,000 during the course of the conflict....
and was murdered by a Russian sailor in the so-called Mommila skirmish that followed.
Kordelin was not married and was childless. Upon his death he bequeathed all his property to a Finnish cultural foundation in his will. With this money the Alfred Kordelin Foundation was later founded. The foundation gives out several million euros annually in grants and awards to promote literature, science, art, and public education in Finland.