Historical Figure
Dag Hammarskjöld
1905–1961
UN Secretary-General from 1953 to 1961
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Biography
Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld was a Swedish economist and diplomat who served as the second secretary-general of the United Nations from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash in September 1961. As of 2026, he remains the youngest person to have held the post, having been only 47 years old when he was elected. He was a son of Hjalmar Hammarskjöld, who served as Prime Minister of Sweden from 1914 to 1917.
In Their Own Words (5)
Life only demands from you the strength you possess. Only one feat is possible — not to have run away.
"1925-1930" , 1964
The breaking wave and the muscle as it contracts obey the same law. Delicate line gathers the body's total strength in a bold balance. Shall my soul meet so severe a curve, journeying on its way to form?
Statement inspired by the work of British sculptor Barbara Hepworth, quoted in The Christian Science Monitor (18 Jun 1964) , 1964
In a political context of the utmost significance, ["freedom from fear"] recognizes a human right which, in a broad sense, may be said to sum up the whole philosophy of human rights.
Speech at the celebration of the 180th anniversary of the Virginia Declaration of Rights (16 May 1956) , 1956
It is more noble to give yourself completely to one individual than to labor diligently for the salvation of the masses.
As quoted in Living in Grace : The Shift to Spiritual Perception (2002) by Beca Lewis, p. 158 , 2002
The more faithfully you listen to the voices within you, the better you will hear what is sounding outside.
As quoted in Sacred Seasonings (2003) by Sherri Purdom , 2003
Timeline
The story of Dag Hammarskjöld, told in moments.
Elected Secretary-General of the United Nations at 47, the youngest person to hold the post. He was chosen as a compromise candidate. The Soviets thought he'd be weak. He wasn't.
Created the first UN peacekeeping force during the Suez Crisis. UNEF deployed to Egypt without a blueprint. The concept of "Blue Helmets" was essentially invented on the spot.
Personally negotiated the release of American prisoners during the Congo Crisis, flying into active conflict zones when career diplomats wouldn't.
Killed when his plane crashed near Ndola, Northern Rhodesia, while en route to ceasefire negotiations in the Congo. He was 56. Investigations over the next six decades have never definitively explained the crash. He was posthumously awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
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