Count Robert Henrik Rehbinder (15 July 1777 – 8 March 1841) was the Secretary of State

Finnish Minister Secretary of State

The Minister–Secretary of State for Finland represented Finnish interests in the Imperial Court in Saint Petersburg. Before 1834 the title was secretary of state...

 for the Grand Duchy of Finland

Grand Duchy of Finland

The Grand Duchy of Finland was the predecessor state of modern Finland. It existed 1809–1917 as part of the Russian Empire and was ruled by the Russian czar as Grand Prince.- History :...

 between 1811 and 1841. He was one of the highest officials in the Grand Duchy and he played a significant part in creating the autonomous role of Finland at the Diet of Porvoo

Diet of Porvoo

The Diet of Porvoo , was the summoned legislative assembly to establish the Grand Principality of Finland in 1809 and the heir of the powers of the Swedish Riksdag of the Estates...

.

Biography

Born in Paimio

Paimio

Paimio is a town and a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Finland Proper region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...

, Rehbinder was given the title count in 1826, and in 1834 he was given the title Privy Counsellor. He was also awarded with the second highest Russian

Russian Empire

The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...

 honor and given a honorary doctorship

Honorary degree

An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...

 in philosophy at the University of Helsinki

University of Helsinki

The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...

 in 1840, at the 200 year jubilee of the University (originally Royal Academy of Turku). He also owned the Viksberg castle in Paimio. He died in Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...

.
Three streets in Helsinki have been named after him: Stora Robertsgatan (Iso Roobertinkatu) in Punavuori

Punavuori

Punavuori is a neighbourhood in Helsinki, the capital of Finland.After the new location and growth of Helsinki in the 18th century, Punavuori became the area next to the center. During the 19th century the district had a seedy reputation. Most of the brothels and beerhouses were found in Punavuori...

, Lilla Robertsgatan (Pieni Roobertinkatu) in Kaartinkaupunki and Rehbindersvägen (Rehbinderintie) in Eira

Eira

Eira is a neighborhood in Helsinki, the capital of Finland.The district dates back to the early 20th century and received its name after Eira Hospital in the neighboring district of Ullanlinna, which in turn took its name from Eira Hospital in Stockholm, which was named after Eir, the old...

. Furthermore, the current southern part of the Mannerheimintie

Mannerheimintie

Mannerheimintie , or Mannerheimvägen , named after the Finnish military leader and statesman Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, is one of the most famous streets in Helsinki, Finland. It was originally named Heikinkatu , after Robert Henrik Rehbinder, but was renamed after the Winter War...

street was until 1942 named after him (Heikinkatu or Henriksgatan in Swedish). He was portrayed on a stamp

Postage stamp

A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...

in Finland in 1936.

Sources

• Helsingin Sanomat 18 December 2005
• Ylioppilasmatrikkeli