Swedish politician and diplomat born in Jönköping, secretary general of the United Nations, the UN, for eight years, characterized by independence from the superpowers, and Nobel Peace Prize (1961). Son of Sweden's prime minister during World War I, Knut Hjalmar Hammarskjöld, he studied law and economics at the universities of Uppsala and Stockholm. He entered the diplomatic career (1946) and was the chairman of the Swedish delegation to the UN (1952). The following year he was elected general secretary of that body and succeeded Trygve Lie of Norway.
He played a prominent role in the creation of the expeditionary peace force during the crisis Suez (1956) and, the following year, was unanimously re-elected for a second term. of five years. In the Congo issue (1960), his policy towards the UN peacekeepers conflicted with the interests of the Soviet Union, which demanded his resignation.
He remained at the head of the organization despite opposition from communist countries, but died in a plane crash, in Ndola, Zambia, while visiting the area of operations (1961). Posthumously, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1961) and his book of reflections, Markings, was published. In the square in front of the United Nations building, in New York, there is his name and a monument to his memory.
Source: http://www.sobiografias.hpg.ig.com.br/
Order D - Biography - Brazil School
