Hammarskjöld

Dag Hammarskjöld was a Swedish diplomat and statesman who served as the second Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1953 until his death in 1961. Born on July 29, 1905, in Jönköping, Sweden, he studied at Uppsala University and pursued a career in Swedish public service, rising to senior positions in the foreign ministry, including Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

Elected to the post of UN Secretary-General in 1953, Hammarskjöld guided the organization through a period of Cold War tensions and decolonization. He prioritized the development of United Nations peacekeeping and stressed the need for the UN to act with moral authority and practical effectiveness. His tenure saw the expansion of UN field operations and complex crisis responses, notably during the Suez Crisis of 1956 and the Congo Crisis beginning in 1960, where he led efforts to stabilize the country and facilitate humanitarian assistance.

Hammarskjöld’s leadership style emphasized principled neutrality, consent from member states, and the protection of civilians in conflict zones. He also authored the influential diary book Markings, reflecting his philosophical approach to public service and ethics.

Tragically, Hammarskjöld died in a plane crash on September 18, 1961, near Ndola, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), while returning from a mission related to the Congo crisis. He remains a central figure in debates over UN peacekeeping and international diplomacy. The Nobel Peace Prize for 1961 was awarded posthumously to Hammarskjöld in recognition of his efforts to strengthen the UN and its role in preventing conflict. He was succeeded as Secretary-General by U Thant.