Famous People

Architects

Alar Kotli
Dmitri Bruns
Edgar-Johan Kuusik
Elmar Lohk
Erich Jacoby
Ernst Gustav Kühnert
Eugen Habermann
Eugen Sacharias
Georg Hellat
Herbert Johanson
Jacques Rosenbaum
Karl Burman
Louis I. Kahn
Otto Pius Hippius
Peep Jänes
Raine Karp
Robert Natus
Vilen Künnapu

Business and Politics

Ado Birk (1883-1942), politician
Aleksander Warma (1890-1970), navy officer, politician
Alfred Rosenberg (1893-1946), politician, ideologist (Germany)
Andres Tarand (b. 1940), politician
Andrus Ansip (b. 1956), politician
Arnold Rüütel (b. 1928), agricultural manager, politician, president
August Koern (1900-1989), politician and diplomat
August Rei (1886-1963), politician, diplomat
Carmen Kass (b. 1978), supermodel, actress, politician
Edgar Savisaar (b. 1950), politician
Edgar V. Saks (1910-1984), statesman, historian and author
Elmar Lipping (1906-1994), politician
Ene Ergma (b. 1944), politician
Enn Tarto (b. 1938), dissident, politician
Ernst Jaakson (1905-1998), diplomat
Hardo Aasmäe (b. 1951), geographer, politician, encyclopaedist
Harry Männil (b. 1920), businessman
Heinrich Mark (1911-2004), politician
Hjalmar Mäe (1901-1978), politician
Ivari Padar (b. 1965), politician
Ivi Eenmaa (b. 1943), librarian and politician
Jaak Tamm (1950-1999), politician
Jaan Anvelt (1884-1937), politician
Jaan Manitski (b. 1942), businessman, politician
Jaan Poska (1866-1920), diplomat, politician
Jaan Tõnisson (1868-1941?/unknown), journalist, politician
Jaanus Silla (b. 1969), motion picture industry promoter
Johannes Sikkar (1897-1960), politician
Juhan Parts (b. 1966), politician
Jürgen Ligi, (b. 1959), politician
Jüri Mõis (b. 1956), businessman, politician
Jüri Pihl (b. 1954), politician
Jüri Uluots (1890-1945), lawyer, politician
Kaarel Eenpalu (Karl Einbund, 1888-1942), politician
Konstantin Päts (1874-1956), journalist, politician, former president
Lembit Öpik (b. 1965), politician (United Kingdom)
Lennart Meri (1929-2006), writer, filmmaker, president
Linnart Mäll (b. 1938), politician
Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie (1622-1686), politician (Sweden)
Maret Maripuu (b. 1974), politician
Mart Laar (b. 1960), politician, historian
Otto Strandman (1875-1941), politician
Otto Tief (1889-1976), military officer, politician
Peeter Lepp (b. 1943), politician
Priit Vilba (b. 1953), businessman, politician
Rein Lang (b. 1957), journalist, businessman, politician
Rein Otsason (1931-2004), economist, businessman
Rein Taagepera (b. 1933), political scientist, politician
Robert Lepikson (1952-2006), businessman, politician
Siim Kallas (b. 1948), politician
Siiri Oviir (b. 1947), politician
Sir Arvi Parbo (b. 1926), businessman (Australia)
Steve Jurvetson (b. 1967), businessman (USA)
Tiit Vähi (b. 1947), businessman, politician
Tõnis Kint (1896-1991), politician
Tõnis Palts (b. 1953), politician, businessman
Toomas Hendrik Ilves (b. 1953), journalist, politician, president
Toomas Vilosius (b. 1951) politician
Tunne Kelam (b. 1936), politician

Education and Science

Bengt Gottfried Forselius (1660?-1688), founder of public education
Edgar de Wahl (Edgar von Wahl, 1867-1948), teacher, creator of Interlingue
Endel Tulving (b. 1927), psychologist
Ernst Öpik (1893-1985), astronomer
Friedrich Martens (1845-1909), diplomat, international lawyer
Georg Dehio (1850-1932), art historian
Georg Friedrich Parrot (1767-1852)
Georg Wilhelm Richmann (1711-1753), physicist
Heinrich Lenz (1804-1865), physicist
Jaan Einasto (b. 1929), astrophysicist
Jakob Hurt (1839-1906), linguist, collector of folklore
Jakob von Uexküll (1864-1944), biologist, semiotician
Johann Friedrich Eschscholtz (1793-1831), entomologist
Jüri Allik (b. 1949), psychologist
Karl Ernst von Baer (1792-1876), biologist
Mihhail Lotman, semiotician (Jewish)
Otto Wilhelm von Struve (1819-1905), astronomer
Paul Ariste (1905-1990), linguist
Ragnar Nurkse (1907-1959), economist
Rainer Kattel (b. 1974), innovation scholar, political philosopher
Sulev Mäeltsemees (b. 1947), public administration scholar
Thomas Seebeck (1770-1831), physicist
Wolfgang Köhler (1887-1967), psychologist
Yuri Lotman (1922-1993), semiotician (Jewish)

Literature and Journalism

Aarne Ruben (1971), writer
Albert Kivikas (1898-1978), writer
Anton Hansen Tammsaare (1878-1940), writer
August Wilhelm Hupel (1737-1819), ecclesiastic writer, ethnologist
Balthasar Russow (1536?-1600), chronicler
Carl Robert Jakobson (1841-1882), journalist, political activist
Edgar Valter (1929-2006), writer, artist
Enn Vetemaa (b. 1936), writer
Eno Raud (1928-1996), children's book author
Friedebert Tuglas (1886-1971), writer, critic, literary scholar
Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald (1803-1882), physician, writer, author of national epic
Gero von Wilpert (b. 1933), writer
Gustav Suits (1883-1956), poet
Heiki Vilep, writer
Hella Wuolijoki (1886-1954), writer, politician (Finland)
Henrik Visnapuu (1890-1951), poet, journalist
Jaan Kaplinski (b. 1941), writer, journalist, politician
Jaan Kross (b. 1920), writer
Johann Voldemar Jannsen (1819-1890), journalist, political activist
Johannes Barbarus (1890-1946), poet
Johannes Semper (1892-1970), writer, poet
Juhan Liiv (1864-1913), poet, writer
Juhan Smuul (1922-1971), writer, poet
Juhan Viiding (1948-1995), poet, actor
Kalle Lasn (b.1942), founder of Adbusters magazine
Karl Ristikivi (1912-1977), writer, poet
Kaur Kender (b. 1971), writer
Lennart Meri (1929-2006), writer, politician
Lilli Promet (b. 1922), writer
Lydia Koidula (Lydia Jannsen, 1843-1886), poetess
Madis Kõiv (b. 1929), writer, physicist
Marie Under (1883-1980), poetess
Mati Unt (1944-2005), writer, stage director
Mats Traat (b. 1936), author, poet
Nikolai Baturin (b. 1936), writer
Oskar Luts (1887-1953), writer
Otto Wilhelm Masing (1763-1862), pastor, philologist, journalist
Paul Kuusberg (1916-2003), writer
Paul-Eerik Rummo (b. 1942), poet, politician
Peeter Sauter (b. 1962), writer
Priit Vesilind (b. 1943), journalist, photographer, author (USA)
Tõnu Õnnepalu (aka Emil Tode, b. 1962), writer
Tõnu Trubetsky (b. 1963), writer, musician, film director
Uku Masing (1909-1985), poet, theologian, ethnologist
Vladimir Beekman (b. 1929), poet, novelist, translator

Military and Seafaring

Adam Johann von Krusenstern (1770-1846), geographer, navigator
Aleksander Einseln (b. 1931), general, politician
Aleksander Tõnisson (1875-1941), general
Alexander von Benckendorff (1783-1844), general, politician
Alfons Rebane (1908-1976), officer, intelligence operative
Andres Larka (1879-1942), general, politician
Andres Nuiamäe (1982-2004), first Estonian soldier Killed in action in Iraq
Ants Laaneots (b. 1948), general
August Sabbe (1909-1978), guerrilla
Avdy Andresson (1899-1990)
Ernst Põdder (1879-1932), general
Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen (1778-1852), geographer, navigator, admiral
Ferdinand von Wrangel (1796-1870), Arctic explorer
Hans Leesment (1873-1944), general
Jaan Soots (1880-1942), general
Jacob De la Gardie (1583-1652), officer, statesman
Johan Laidoner (1884-1953), general, politician
Johan Pitka (1872-1944?/unknown), admiral, politician
Julius Kuperjanov (1894-1919), officer
Karl Parts (1886-1941), officer
Konstantin von Benckendorff (1785-1828), general, diplomat
Lembitu of Lehola (11??-1217), tribal elder, military commander
Nikolai Reek (1890-1942), general
Otto Heinze (1877-1968), general
Otto von Kotzebue (1787-1846), geographer, navigator
Paul Maitla (1913-1945), officer
Viktor Puskar (1889-1943), officer

Music

Annely Peebo (b. 1971), opera singer
Artur Kapp (1878-1952), composer
Arvo Pärt (b. 1935), composer
Eda-Ines Etti ("Ines", b. 1981), pop musician
Eduard Tubin (1905-1982), composer
Erkki-Sven Tüür (b. 1959), composer
Evald Aav (1900-1939), composer, choir conductor
Evelin Samuel, pop musician
Georg Ots (1920-1975), opera singer
Gustav Ernesaks (1908-1993), composer, conductor
Heino Eller (1887-1970), composer
Ivo Linna (b. 1949), singer, pop musician
Jaan Rääts (b. 1932), composer
Johann Voldemar Jannsen (1819-1890), conductor, journalist
Juhan Aavik (1884-1982), composer, conductor
Käbi Laretei (b. 1922), pianist, composer, writer
Katrin Siska (b. 1983), pop musician
Kerli Kõiv ("Kerli", b. 1987), musician, song writer
Lenna Kuurmaa (b. 1985), pop musician
Lepo Sumera (1950-2000), composer
Maarja Kivi (b. 1986), pop musician
Maarja-Liis Ilus ("Maarja", b. 1980), pop musician
Mart Saar (1882-1963), composer
Mart Sander, (b. 1967), singer, actor
Miina Härma (1864-1941), composer, conductor
Neeme Järvi (b. 1937), conductor
Paavo Järvi (b. 1962), conductor
Piret Järvis (b. 1984), pop musician
Rudolf Tobias (1873-1918), composer
Tanel Padar (b. 1980), pop musician
Tõnu Trubetsky (b. 1963), singer, composer, writer
Triinu Kivilaan (b. 1989), model, pop musician
Urmas Sisask (b.1960), composer
Veljo Tormis (b. 1930), composer

Performing Arts

Ants Eskola (1908-1989), actor
Argo Aadli, actor (b. 1980)
Birgit Õigemeel (b. 1988), singer
Enn Reitel (b. 1950), film actor (UK)
Jüri Järvet (1919-1995), actor
Konstantin Märska (1896-1951), cinematographer
Marko Matvere (b. 1968), actor
Mikk Mikiver (1937-2006), stage director, actor
Miliza Korjus (1909-1980), opera singer, film actress
Ornella Muti (b. 1955), film actress (Italy)
Ott Aardam, actor (b. 1980)
Piret Aava, model (b. 1980)
Priit Pärn (b. 1946), animated film maker, graphic artist
Tiiu Kuik (b. 1987), model

Religion

Alexey Ridiger (Patriarch Alexius II, b. 1929), head of Orthodox Church (Russia)
Andres Põder (b. 1949), archbishop
Jaan Kiivit, Jr (1940-2005), archbishop
Juhan Leinberg (1812-1885), founder of a religious sect (the Maltsvetians)
Kuno Pajula (b. 1924), archbishop