List of Latvians
Encyclopedia
This is a list of prominent Latvians
with Wikipedia articles. It includes:
Latvians
Latvians or Letts are the indigenous Baltic people of Latvia.-History:Latvians occasionally refer to themselves by the ancient name of Latvji, which may have originated from the word Latve which is a name of the river that presumably flowed through what is now eastern Latvia...
with Wikipedia articles. It includes:
- persons who were born in the historical territory of what is now LatviaLatviaLatvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, regardless of ethnicity, citizenship, or time period; and - persons of Latvian descent regardless of their place of birth or citizenship.
A
- Augusts Vilis AbakuksAugusts Vilis AbakuksAugusts Vilis Abakuks was a Latvian government official and émigré activist.During World War II he served as deputy head of the local government for Abrene district in German-occupied Latvia....
(1914–1994) - a leader of the British Latvian community in exile - Valerians Abakovskis (1895–1921) - inventor of a propeller-powered railcar, the aerowagonAerowagonThe Aerowagon or aeromotowagon was an experimental high-speed railcar fitted with an aircraft engine and propeller traction invented by Valerian Abakovsky, a Russian engineer and communist from Latvia...
. - Rutanya AldaRutanya Alda-Life:Rutanya Alda was born as Rutanya Alda Skrastiņa in Riga, Latvia, the daughter of Vera , a businesswoman, and Jānis Skrastiņš, a poet...
(1942) - actress (Mommy Dearest, Deer Hunter) - Viktors Alksnis (1950) - Soviet military officer and Russian communist politician known as "the Black Colonel"
- Iveta ApkalnaIveta ApkalnaIveta Apkalna is a Latvian organist.- Biography :Iveta Apkalna studied piano and organ at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, graduating in both instruments with distinction in 1999. In 1999/2000 she continued piano studies at London Guildhall School of Music and Drama...
(1976) - organist - Fricis ApšenieksFricis ApšenieksFricis Apšenieks was a Latvian chess master.-Biography:...
(1894–1941) - chess player - Vija ArtmaneVija ArtmaneAlīda "Vija" Artmane was a Latvian / Soviet theatre and cinema actress.-Childhood:...
(1929–2008) - actress - Gunārs AstraGunars AstraGunārs Astra was a Latvian human rights activist arrested by the Soviet Union in 1961 and sentenced to prison for 15 years. He was released in 1976...
(1931–1988) - dissident, fighter for human rightsHuman rightsHuman rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national... - AuseklisAuseklisAuseklis was a Latvian god, and the personification of the celestial body Venus...
see Miķelis Krogzems
B
- Helmuts BalderisHelmuts BalderisHelmuts Balderis-Sildedzis is a retired Latvian ice hockey player. He played right wing.-Playing career:...
(1952) - ice hockey player, forward - Jānis BalodisJanis BalodisJānis Balodis was an army officer and politician who was a principal figure in the foundation and government of independent Latvia. He was commander in chief of the army and navy during the Latvian war of independence and later was a cabinet member and vice president...
(1881–1965) - army officer and politician - Jānis BalodisJanis BalodisJānis Balodis was an army officer and politician who was a principal figure in the foundation and government of independent Latvia. He was commander in chief of the army and navy during the Latvian war of independence and later was a cabinet member and vice president...
(1950) - Latvian/Australian playwright - Kārlis BalodisKārlis BalodisKārlis Balodis was a notable Latvian economist, financist, statistician and demographist. Most notably, he is the author of civilian rationing, which was first used in Germany during the First World War...
(1864-1931) - notable economist, financist, statistician and demographist - Krišjānis BaronsKrišjanis BaronsKrišjānis Barons is known as the "father of the dainas" thanks largely to his systematization of the Latvian folk songs and his labour in preparing their texts for publication in Latvju dainas. His portrait appears on the 100-lat banknote, the only human face of a living person on modern Latvian...
(1835–1923) - "the father of Latvian folk songs", who compiled and edited the first publication of Latvian folk-song texts "Latvju Dainas" (1894–1915) - Mihails BarišņikovsMikhail BaryshnikovMikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov is a Soviet and American dancer, choreographer, and actor, often cited alongside Vaslav Nijinsky and Rudolf Nureyev as one of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th century. After a promising start in the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, he defected to Canada in 1974...
(1948) - ballet-dancer - Kārlis BaumanisKarlis BaumanisKārlis Baumanis , better known as Baumaņu Kārlis, was a Latvian composer. He is the author of the lyrics and music of Dievs, svētī Latviju! , the national anthem of Latvia....
(1835–1905) - composer, author of the national anthemNational anthemA national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of the Republic of LatviaLatviaLatvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
"Dievs, svētī Latviju!Dievs, sveti Latviju!Dievs, svētī Latviju! is the national anthem of Latvia. Words and music by Kārlis Baumanis .-Composition:...
" (God bless Latvia!) - Vizma BelševicaVizma BelševicaVizma Belševica was a Latvian poetess, writer and translator. She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature.- Biography :...
(1931–2005) - author, candidate for Nobel Prize in LiteratureNobel Prize in LiteratureSince 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded annually to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction"... - Eduards BerklavsEduards BerklavsEduards Berklavs was a Latvian politician.Eduards Berklavs was born in the Kuldīga District. During his youth, he was active in labour and communist organizations. In 1930s, he was arrested and served a prison sentence for his communist activities...
(1914–2004) - politician, leader of Latvian national-communists - Krišjānis BerķisKrišjanis BerkisKrišjānis Berķis was a Latvian general. Rising to prominence as an officer of the Latvian Riflemen in World War I, he was later one of Prime Minister Kārlis Ulmanis' principal conspirators in the coup d'état of May 15, 1934...
(1884–1942) - general - Isaiah BerlinIsaiah BerlinSir Isaiah Berlin OM, FBA was a British social and political theorist, philosopher and historian of ideas of Russian-Jewish origin, regarded as one of the leading thinkers of the twentieth century and a dominant liberal scholar of his generation...
(1909–1997) - philosopher - Eduard BerzinEduard BerzinEduard Petrovich Berzin , born in Latvia, was a soldier and Chekist, but is remembered primarily for setting up Dalstroy, which instituted a system of forced-labour camps in Kolyma, North-Eastern Siberia, where hundreds of thousands of prisoners died...
(1894–1938) - soldier in the Red Army, later Head of DalstroyDalstroyDalstroy , also known as Far North Construction Trust, was an organization set up in 1931 by the Soviet NKVD in order to manage road construction and the mining of gold in the Chukotka region of the Russian Far East, now known as Kolyma. Initially it was established as State Trust for Road and...
, the KolymaKolymaThe Kolyma region is located in the far north-eastern area of Russia in what is commonly known as Siberia but is actually part of the Russian Far East. It is bounded by the East Siberian Sea and the Arctic Ocean in the north and the Sea of Okhotsk to the south...
forced-labour camps in North-Eastern Siberia - Karlis BetinšKarlis BetinšKārlis Karlovich Bētiņš was a Latvian chess master and composer of studies....
(1867–1943) - chess player - Andris BiedriņšAndris BiedrinšAndris Biedriņš is a Latvian professional basketball player who plays the power forward and center positions for the NBA's Golden State Warriors. He was drafted by the Warriors with the 11th overall selection in the 2004 NBA Draft.-FIBA career:...
(1986) - basketball player, Golden State WarriorsGolden State WarriorsThe Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association... - Gunnar BirkertsGunnar BirkertsGunnar Birkerts is a prominent American architect who, for most of his career, was based in the metropolitan area of Detroit, Michigan. Some of his designs include the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York, Marquette Plaza in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in...
(1925) - architect - Miervaldis BirzeMiervaldis BirzeMiervaldis Birze was a Latvian writer, publicist, physician and Holocaust survivor.- Biography :...
(1921-2000) - writer - Ernests BlanksErnests BlanksErnests Blanks , publicist, the first to publicly advocate for Latvia's independence in 1917.Ernests Blanks was editorial writer of Dzimtenes Atbalss . At a time when others discussed Latvia's and, the other Baltic countries, autonomy, Ernests Blanks dared to demand sovereignty for Latvia. Already...
(1894–1972) - Latvian publicist, writer, historian, the first to publicly advocate for Latvia's independence - Rūdolfs BlaumanisRudolfs BlaumanisRūdolfs Blaumanis was a Latvian writer, journalist and playwright. He is considered one of the greatest writers in Latvian history and particularly a master of realism...
(1863–1908) - writer and playwright - Himans BlūmsHyman BloomHyman Bloom was a painter. His work is influenced by his Jewish heritage, Eastern religions as well as artists including Altdorfer, Grunewald, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, William Blake, Rudolph Bresdin, J.M.W...
(1913) - painter - Ārons BogoļubovsArons BogolubovsĀrons Herševič Bogoļubovs was a Latvian judoka who competed for the Soviet Union in the 1964 Summer Olympics. He is Jewish. At the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, he won a bronze medal in judo in the lightweight class.-External links:*...
(b. 1938) - Olympic medalist judoka - Baiba BrokaBaiba BrokaBaiba Broka is a Latvian stage, television and film actress.-Career:Born in Riga, Latvia, Broka began her film career in the 1992 Dzidra Ritenberga-directed drama Walsis muza garuma...
(1973) - actress - Inguna ButaneInguna ButaneIngūna Butāne , sometimes simply known as Inguna, is a Latvian model.Butāne was discovered when a contest was held in Latvia, where she met agents from Women Management in Milan, Italy, but decided to finish her degree of Interior Design...
- fashion model.
C
- Valters CapsWalter ZappWalter Zapp was a Latvian inventor. His greatest creation was the subminiature camera .Zapp was born in Riga, Governorate of Livonia. In 1934, living in Estonia, he began developing the then subminiature camera by first creating wooden models, which led to the first prototype in 1936. It was...
(1905–2003) - designed first MinoxMinoxThe Minox is a subminiature camera conceived in 1922 and invented in 1936 by German-Latvian Walter Zapp, which Latvian factory VEF manufactured from 1937 to 1943. After World War II, the camera was redesigned and production resumed in Germany in 1948. Originally envisioned as a luxury item, it...
8 x 11 photocameras - Gustavs CelmiņšGustavs Celminš-Biography:Born in Riga, he was educated at the commerce school of the Riga Stock Exchange, and graduated in Moscow. In 1917, he began studies at the Riga Polytechnical Institute which had been evacuated to Moscow...
(1899–1968) – fascist politician, leader of PērkonkrustsPerkonkrustsPērkonkrusts , was a Latvian political party founded in the 1930s. This group adapted fascist ideology to the situation in independent Latvia after 1918. It was the largest and longest-lived organisation of its kind in Latvia...
movement - Vija CelminsVija CelminsVija Celmins is an American artist.-Early life:Vija Celmins immigrated to the United States with her family from Latvia when she was ten years old. She and her family settled in Indiana...
(1938) - American painter born in Latvia
Č
- Aleksandrs ČaksAleksandrs CaksAleksandrs Čaks , born Aleksandrs Čadarainis, was a Latvian poet and writer. Čaks is arguably the first Latvian writer whose works are distinctly urban, compared to usual depictions of country life or small villages in earlier Latvian literature.He was born in Riga to a tailor's family, and,...
(1901–1950) - poet - Jānis ČaksteJanis CaksteJānis Čakste was a Latvian politician and lawyer who served as the first head of independent Latvian state as the Chairman of Tautas Padome , the Speaker of the Constitutional Assembly , and as the first President of Latvia .- Youth :Čakste was born in the...
(1859–1927) - first Latvian president - Tanhum Cohen-MintzTanhum Cohen-MintzTanhum Cohen-Mintz is a former Israeli basketball player. He is 6' 8" tall, and played center.-Basketball career:He played for Maccabi Tel Aviv....
(born 1939), Latvian-born Israeli basketball player
D
- Roberts DambītisRoberts DambitisGeneral Roberts Dambītis was a Latvian soldier and politician.A founder of the National Soldiers' Union as a Latvian Rifleman in World War I, Dambītis formally became the first soldier in the Latvian Army by placing volunteer units under the command of the People's Council of Latvia when it...
(1881–1957) - general and politician - Jānis DāliņšJanis DalinšJānis Daliņš was a Latvian athlete who competed in race walking....
(1904–1978) - athlete, race walker - Emīls DārziņšEmils DarzinšEmils Darzins, in Latvian Emīls Dārziņš, was a Latvian composer, conductor and music critic. Dārziņš' work bears a distinct romantic character, with a strong trend towards national themes. His main musical authorities and influences were Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Jean Sibelius...
(1875–1910) - composer - Jacob Davis (1834–1908) - inventor of denim
- Johans Aleksandrs Heinrihs Klapje de Kolongs (1839–1901) - naval engineer
- Eliass Eliezers DesslersEliyahu Eliezer DesslerEliyahu Eliezer Dessler was an Orthodox rabbi, Talmudic scholar, and Jewish philosopher of the 20th century. He is known as mashgiach ruchani of the Ponevezh yeshiva in Israel and through collections of his writings published posthumously by his pupils.-Lithuania:Eliyahu Dessler Eliyahu Eliezer...
(1892–1953) - OrthodoxOrthodox JudaismOrthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
rabbiRabbiIn Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, Talmudic scholar, and Jewish philosopher - Leor Dimant (1972) - Turntabilist and member of the rock group Limp BizkitLimp BizkitLimp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999...
- Anatols DinbergsAnatols DinbergsAnatols Dinbergs was one of the preeminent career diplomats of Latvia. He entered service in Latvia's Foreign Ministry in 1932. Dinbergs remained abroad when the Soviet Union occupied Latvia, serving in the Latvian Legation in Washington D.C. after World War II ended...
(1911–1993) - diplomat - Aleksis DreimanisAleksis DreimanisAleksis Dreimanis was a Canadian Quaternary geologist. He was born in Valmiera, Latvia.He first studied geology at the Institute of Palaeontology at the University of Latvia in Riga. In 1939, he worked as a lecturer at the University...
(1914) - geologist - Inga Drozdova (1975) - model and actress
- Oļģerts DunkersOļģerts DunkersOļģerts Dunkers was a Latvian actor and film director. He was also elected to 6th Saeima in 1995.- References :...
(1832–1997) - actor and film director
E
- Mihails EizenšteinsMikhail EisensteinMikhail Osipovich Eisenstein, , was a Russian architect and civil engineer. His paternal grandparents being German Jews, had converted to Orthodox Christianity, and his maternal grandparents were Swedes. He graduated from the Institute of Civic Engineering in St. Petersburg in 1893. He was the...
(1867–1921) - architect - Sergejs EizenšteinsSergei EisensteinSergei Mikhailovich Eisenstein , né Eizenshtein, was a pioneering Soviet Russian film director and film theorist, often considered to be the "Father of Montage"...
(1898–1948) - film director - Modris EksteinsModris EksteinsModris Eksteins is a Canadian historian with a special interest in German history and modern culture. His works include Rites of Spring: The Great War and the Birth of the Modern Age , which won the Ferguson Prize and the Trillium Book Award, and Walking Since Daybreak: A Story of Eastern Europe,...
(1943) - Canadian historian and writer - Andrievs EzergailisAndrew EzergailisAndrew Ezergailis is a retired Professor of History, Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York, USA, known for his research into the 20th-century history of Latvia, particularly of the 1917 Revolution and the Holocaust in Latvia....
(1930) - historian of the Holocaust
F
- Movša FeiginsMovsas FeiginsMovsas Feigins or Movša Feigins was a Latvian chess master.-Biography:Movsas Feigins was born in Dvinsk, . He won at Riga 1930, and was Latvian Champion in 1932 . In 1932, he tied for 3rd–5th at Riga. The event was won by Vladimirs Petrovs...
(1908–1950) - chess player - Gregors FitelbergsGrzegorz FitelbergGrzegorz Fitelberg was a Polish conductor, violinist and composer. He was a member of the Młoda Polska group, together with artists such as Karol Szymanowski, Ludomir Różycki and Mieczysław Karłowicz....
(1879–1953) - conductor, composer and violinist - Vesels fon Freitāgs-Loringhofens (1899–1944) - colonel and member of the German resistanceGerman ResistanceThe German resistance was the opposition by individuals and groups in Germany to Adolf Hitler or the National Socialist regime between 1933 and 1945. Some of these engaged in active plans to remove Adolf Hitler from power and overthrow his regime...
against German dictator Adolf HitlerAdolf HitlerAdolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945... - Laila FreivaldsLaila FreivaldsLaila Ligita Freivalds is a Swedish Social Democratic politician and a former Swedish Minister for Justice, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister....
(1942) - former Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs
G
- Inese Galante (1954) - opera singer (soprano)
- Gints GabrānsGints GabransGints Gabrāns is a well-known contemporary Latvian artist. He mainly works with installations and new media art. He won the Hansabank Art Award in 2005, and in 2007 represented Latvia at the Venice Biennale with the project Paramirrors.-References:...
(1970) - artist - Elīna GarančaElina Garanca-Biography:Garanča was born in the Latvian city of Riga into a musical family, her father a choral director, mother a lieder singer and singing teacher. Her mother Anita is a professor at the Latvian Academy of Music, an associated professor at the Latvian Academy of Culture, a vocal music teacher...
(1976) - opera singer (mezzo-soprano) - Kārlis GoppersKarlis GoppersGeneral Kārlis Goppers was a Latvian military officer and the founder and President of Latvijas Skautu un Gaidu Centrālā Organizācija...
(1876–1941) - general, founder of Latvian Boy Scouts - Andrejs GrantsAndrejs GrantsAndrejs Grants is a Latvian photographer and teacher. He studied at the Latvian State University , worked in the “Ogre” photo studio...
(1955) - photographer - Ernests GulbisErnests GulbisErnests Gulbis is a Latvian professional tennis player. In 2008, Gulbis won his first ATP Tour doubles title at the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships, teaming with Rainer Schüttler, and in 2010 won his first ATP Tour singles title in the Delray Beach, defeating Ivo Karlović in the final...
(1988) - Latvian professional tennis player - Natālija GulbisNatalie GulbisNatalie Anne Gulbis is an American professional golfer of Latvian descent who plays on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour.-Golf career:...
(1983) - Latvian-descent LPGA golfer
Ģ
- Uldis ĢērmanisUldis GermanisUldis Ģērmanis was a Latvian historian, writer and publicist born in Novaya Ladoga, Russian Empire. His father was Jānis Ģermanis, and his family returned to the newly independent Latvia in 1919....
(1915–1997) - historian, under the alias of Ulafs Jāņsons a social commentator - Aivars ĢipslisAivars GipslisAivars Gipslis was a Latvian chess FIDE Grandmaster and also an ICCF Grandmaster, and a chess writer.-History:...
(1937–2000) - chess player
H
- Moriss HalleMorris HalleMorris Halle , is a Latvian-American Jewish linguist and an Institute Professor and professor emeritus of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology...
(1923) - linguist - Filips HalsmansPhilippe HalsmanPhilippe Halsman was an American portrait photographer.-Life and work:Born to a Jewish family of Morduch Halsman, a dentist, and Ita Grintuch, a grammar school principal, in Riga, Halsman studied electrical engineering in Dresden....
(1906–1979) - Latvian/American photographer - Juris HartmanisJuris HartmanisJuris Hartmanis is a prominent computer scientist and computational theorist who, with Richard E. Stearns, received the 1993 ACM Turing Award "in recognition of their seminal paper which established the foundations for the field of computational complexity theory".Hartmanis was born in Latvia...
(1928) - computer scientist, Turing AwardTuring AwardThe Turing Award, in full The ACM A.M. Turing Award, is an annual award given by the Association for Computing Machinery to "an individual selected for contributions of a technical nature made to the computing community. The contributions should be of lasting and major technical importance to the...
winner - Uvis HelmanisUvis HelmanisUvis Helmanis is a Latvian professional basketball player who plays the power forward position for Barons LMT.-Player profile:...
- basketball player
I
- Artūrs IrbeArturs IrbeArtūrs Irbe is a former Soviet and Latvian professional ice hockey goaltender. He has played in the National Hockey League for the San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets. He served as the goaltending coach for the Washington Capitals...
(1967) - ice hockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player (NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
), goalkeeper - Kārlis IrbītisKarlis IrbitisKārlis Irbītis was a Latvian aeroplane designer....
(1904–1997) - aviation inventor, engineer, designer
J
- Gatis JahovičsGatis JahovicsGatis Jahovičs is a Latvian professional basketball player, who is currently playing for VEF Riga.He is 2.00 m and a small forward.-External links:*...
- basketball player - Mariss JansonsMariss JansonsMariss Ivars Georgs Jansons is a Latvian conductor, the son of conductor Arvīds Jansons. His mother, the singer Iraida Jansons, who was Jewish, gave birth to him in hiding in Riga, Latvia, after her father and brother were killed in the Riga Ghetto...
(1943) - conductor - Inese JaunzemeInese JaunzemeInese Jaunzeme was a Latvian athlete who competed mainly in the javelin throw.Born in Pļaviņas, she trained with the Dynamo club in Riga. Jaunzeme was third in the javelin at the USSR Championships in 1956, earning herself a place on the Olympic team for the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne,...
(1932) - athlete
K
- Sandra KalnieteSandra KalnieteSandra Kalniete is a Latvian politician, author, diplomat and independence movement leader. She served as Foreign Minister of Latvia 2002–2004 and as European Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries in 2004...
(1952) - politician, diplomat, former LatviaLatviaLatvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
's EU commissioner - Bruno KalniņšBruno KalninšBrūno Haralds Kalniņš was a Latvian social democratic politician and historian...
(1899–1990) - Saeima member, Red Army General - Imants KalniņšImants KalninšImants Kalniņš is one of the most important composers in the history of Latvian music. Having studied classical, as well as choral music, he has written six symphonies, several operas , oratorios, cantatas, choir songs, a lot of movie and theater music...
(1941) - composer, politician - Oskars KalpaksOskars KalpaksOskars Kalpaks was the commander of 1st Latvian Independent Battalion, also known as "Kalpaks Battalion"....
(1882–1919) - colonel, first Commander of Latvian National Armed Forces - Kaspars KambalaKaspars KambalaKaspars Kambala is a Latvian professional basketball player and a former professional boxer. He is 2.06 meters tall and he weighs 125 kilograms...
(1978) - basketball player - Renārs KaupersRenars KaupersRenārs Kaupers, artistic name Reynard Cowper is a Latvian pop singer and songwriter.He is the lead singer of the Latvian pop/rock band Brainstorm, which came third at the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 with their song "My Star"...
(1974) - musician - Jēkabs KetlersJacob KettlerJacob Kettler was a Baltic German Duke of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia . Under his rule, the duchy was brought to its greatest peak in wealth and engaged in colonization.- Life :...
(1610–1682) - DukeDukeA duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of the Duchy of Courland and SemigalliaDuchy of Courland and SemigalliaThe Duchy of Courland and Semigallia is the name of a duchy in the Baltic region that existed from 1562 to 1569 as a vassal state of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and from 1569... - Gustavs Klucis (1895–1938) - painter and graphic designer
- Aleksandrs KoblencsAlexander KoblencsAlexander Koblents was a Latvian chess International Master, trainer, and writer.In 1935, he took 4th place in Rosas . In 1936, he took 5th in Reus . In 1937, he won, ahead of Lajos Steiner, in Brno with 9/11. In 1938, he took 5th in Milan...
(1916–1993) - chess player - Ābrams Izāks KūksAbraham Isaac KookAbraham Isaac Kook was the first Ashkenazi chief rabbi of the British Mandate for Palestine, the founder of the Religious Zionist Yeshiva Merkaz HaRav, Jewish thinker, Halachist, Kabbalist and a renowned Torah scholar...
(1864–1935) - chief rabbiChief RabbiChief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
, Jewish thinker, statesman, diplomat, mediator and a renowned scholar - Aleksandrs KovaļevskisAlexander KovalevskyAlexander Onufrievich Kovalevsky was a Russian embryologist who studied medicine at the University of Heidelberg and became professor at St Petersburg. He showed that all animals go through a period of gastrulation.- Bibliography :* Kowalevsky A. . "Les Hedylidés, étude anatomique"...
(1840–1901) - zoologist - Gidon KremerGidon KremerGidon Kremer is a Latvian violinist and conductor. In 1980 he left the USSR and settled in Germany.-Biography:Kremer was born in Riga to parents of German-Jewish and Latvian-Swedish origins. He began playing the violin at the age of four, receiving instruction from his father and his grandfather,...
(1947) - violinist and conductor - Miķelis Krogzems (1850–1879) - poet, author and translator of German poets
- Juris KronbergsJuris KronbergsJuris Kronbergs is a Latvian-Swedish poet and translator, living in Stockholm.In Latvia, he is best known for his poetry, written in Latvian. His most acknowledged book is Vilks vienacis , which has been published in Swedish, English and Estonian translations. In Sweden, Kronbergs is the most...
(1946) - poet, writer, free-lance journalist, translator - Atis KronvaldsAtis KronvaldsAtis Kronvalds or Kronvaldu Atis was Latvian writer, linguist and pedagogue.-Early life:Kronvalds was born to a tailor family, but was raised by priests of Durbe. After studies in Liepāja he became a private teacher. In 1860 he started to study medicine at the University of Berlin; however, he...
(1837–1875) - teacher and journalist, reformed the Latvian languageLatvian languageLatvian is the official state language of Latvia. It is also sometimes referred to as Lettish. There are about 1.4 million native Latvian speakers in Latvia and about 150,000 abroad. The Latvian language has a relatively large number of non-native speakers, atypical for a small language...
, organized the first Latvian Song and Dance FestivalLatvian Song and Dance FestivalThe Latvian Song and Dance Festival is an important event in Latvian culture and social life. The All-Latvian Song and Dance Festival has been held since 1873, normally every five years. During the festivals exhibitions of photography, art and folk craft, orchestra concerts, and a festive parade... - Dainis KūlaDainis KulaDainis Kūla is a Latvian former javelin thrower who represented the Soviet Union at the international level for most of his career. He is most famous for controversially winning the gold medal in men's javelin throw at the 1980 Summer Olympics, becoming the second Latvian to achieve this...
(1959) - athlete (Olympic gold medal in javelin) - Alberts KviesisAlberts KviesisAlberts Kviesis was a Latvian politician and the third President of Latvia.Alberts Kviesis was born in Kalnamuiža parish. Having received his primary education from his parents, he thereafter finished the Jelgava Gymnasium and from 1902 studied law at the Tartu University, from where he...
(1881–1944) - president
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- Aleksandrs LaimeAleksandrs LaimeAleksandrs Laime was a famous Latvian-born explorer. He is most noted for being the first recorded human to reach Angel Falls, located in Venezuela, by foot...
(1911–1994) - explorer - Vilis LācisVilis LacisVilis Lācis was a Latvian writer and Communist politician.Lācis was born into a working-class family in Mangaļi, near Riga. He was a manual labourer, mostly working in the port of Riga and writing in his free time...
(1904–1966) - author and politician - Ginta LapinaGinta LapinaGinta Lapiņa is a Latvian model.-Modeling career:Lapiņa was born in Riga, Latvia, and began her modeling career on March 19, 2005 when she was scouted on street of Riga by Nils Raumanis, the founder of DANDY model management in Riga, Latvia and after placed with MC2 Model Management in New York....
(1989) - fashion model - Natalia Laschenova - gymnastics Olympic champion (team)
- Ed Leedskalnin (1887–1951) - builder of Coral Castle in Florida, claimed to have discovered the ancient magnetic levitation secrets used to construct the Egyptian pyramids.
- Jēkabs Mihaels Reinholds LencsJakob Michael Reinhold LenzJakob Michael Reinhold Lenz was a Baltic German writer of the Sturm und Drang movement.-Life:...
(1751–1792) - author - Marija LeikoMarija LeikoMarija Leiko was a Latvian silent movie actress in Europe since the 1910s, especially popular in Latvia, Germany and Russia.- Life and film career :...
(1887–1937) - actress - Alexander Liepa (1919–2000) - inventor, artist
- Maris LiepaMaris LiepaMāris Rūdolfs Liepa was a Soviet Latvian ballet dancer. He graduated from Riga Choreography School where he was taught by Valentīns Bļinovs. He performed in Moscow for the first time in 1950...
(1936–1989) - ballet-dancer - Maxim Likhachev (1975) - Robotics Professor and Motion Planning Expert
- Nikolajs LoskisNikolai LosskyNikolay Onufriyevich Lossky was a Russian philosopher, representative of Russian idealism, intuitionism, personalism, libertarianism, ethics, Axiology , and his philosophy he called intuitive-personalism. Born in Latvia, he spent his working life in St. Petersburg, New York and Paris...
(1870–1965) - philosopher - Jānis LūsisJanis LusisJānis Lūsis is a Latvian athlete who competed in javelin throw.Lūsis trained at Daugava Voluntary Sports Society and later at Armed Forces sports society...
(1939) - athlete
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- Maris MartinsonsMaris MartinsonsMaris Martinsons is director of the Pacific Rim Institute for the Studies of Management and a professor of management currently associated with the City University of Hong Kong, the Stockholm School of Economics and the University of Toronto. He received his B.A.Sc. and M.B.A. degrees from the...
(1960) - professor of strategic management, international business consultant - Hermanis MatisonsHermanis MatisonsHermanis Matisons , , was a Latvian chess player and one of world's most highly regarded chess masters in the early 1930s. He was also a leading endgame composer...
(1894–1932) - chessChessChess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
player - Zenta MauriņaZenta MaurinaZenta Mauriņa , was a writer, essayist with a degree in philology . She was married to the EVP researcher Konstantin Raudive.-References:...
(1897–1978) - writer, literary scholar, culture philosopher - Juris MātersJuris MatersJuris Māters , was a Latvian writer and journalist.-References:...
(1845–1884) - author, lawyer and journalist, translated laws to Latvian and created the foundation for Latvian law - Zigfrīds Anna MeierovicsZigfrids Anna MeierovicsZigfrīds Anna Meierovics was a Latvian politician and diplomat who served as the first Foreign Minister of Latvia from its independence until 1924 and again from December of the same year until his death. He also served two terms as the Prime Minister of Latvia from June, 1921 to January, 1923 and...
(1887–1925) - first Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs - Leo MihelsonsLeo MichelsonLeo Michelson was an American artist considered part of the École de Paris, although his works span many periods and styles.-Biography:Michelson was born in Riga, Latvia. He attended the Imperial Academy in St...
(1887–1978) - artist - Arnolds MikelsonsArnold MikelsonArnold Mikelson was a Latvian artist who specialized in wood carvings.Born in Latvia, he fled the country during the Second World War and lived in England before moving to Canada...
(1922–1984) - artist - Evgenijs MillersEvgenii MillerEvgeny Karlovich Miller was a Russian general and one of the leaders of the anti-communist White Army during and after Russian Civil War.-Biography:...
(1867–1938) - czarist Russian general - Kārlis MīlenbahsKarlis MilenbahsKārlis Mīlenbahs was the first native speaker of Latvian to devote his career to linguistics...
(1853–1916) - linguist
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- Arkadij NaiditschArkadij NaiditschArkadij Naiditsch is a German chess Grandmaster who was the clear winner of the Dortmund Sparkassen 2005 Tournament, ahead of higher-rated and well-known players such as Loek Van Wely, Veselin Topalov, Peter Svidler, Vladimir Kramnik, Michael Adams, and Peter Leko...
(1985) - chess player, now resident in Germany - Marija Naumova (1973) - variety singer, winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2002Eurovision Song Contest 2002The Eurovision Song Contest 2002 was the 47th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place on 25 May 2002 at the Saku Suurhall Arena in Tallinn, Estonia....
under her stage name Marie N - Andris NelsonsAndris NelsonsAndris Nelsons is a Latvian conductor.Nelsons was born in Riga. His mother founded the first early music ensemble in Latvia, and his father was a choral conductor, cellist, and teacher...
(1978) - conductor of CBSO - Andrievs NiedraAndrievs NiedraAndrievs Niedra was a Latvian writer, Lutheran pastor and the Prime Minister of the German puppet government in Latvia between April and June 1919, during the Latvian War of Independence.Niedra's first collection of poems was published...
(1871–1941) - pastor, writer, prime minister of German puppet government (1919) - Aron NimzowitschAron NimzowitschAron Nimzowitsch was a Russian-born Danish unofficial chess grandmaster and a very influential chess writer...
(1886–1935) - influential chess player - Fred NorrisFred NorrisEric Fred Norris is an American radio personality known for being the longest-tenured staff member of The Howard Stern Show aside from Stern himself...
(1955) - Radio personality, The Howard Stern Show.
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- Staņislavs OlijarsStanislavs OlijarsStaņislavs Olijars is a Latvian athlete mainly competing in the 110 metres hurdles. He is the 2000 European indoor champion, and in 2002 he won European indoor and outdoor medals. His best Olympic performance was in 2004, finishing 5th. In 2006, he became European champion in the event...
(1979) - athlete (European champion in 110m Hurdles) - Wilhelm OstwaldWilhelm OstwaldFriedrich Wilhelm Ostwald was a Baltic German chemist. He received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1909 for his work on catalysis, chemical equilibria and reaction velocities...
(1853–1932) - received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1909 for his work on catalysis, chemical equilibria and reaction velocities - Elvīra OzoliņaElvira OzolinaElvīra Anatolyevna Ozoliņa is a retired Latvian athlete, who competed in javelin throw. She won the gold medal for the USSR team in the 1960 Olympics and was awarded Order of the Red Banner of Labour that year.Ozoliņa trained at VSS Burevestnik in Leningrad...
(1939) - athlete (Olympic gold medal in javelin) - Sandis OzoliņšSandis OzolinshSandis Ozoliņš , commonly known as Sandis Ozolinsh in North America, is a Latvian ice hockey player and captain of Dinamo Riga in the Kontinental Hockey League. During his career in North America, Ozoliņš was a seven-time NHL All-Star, Stanley Cup champion, and Norris Trophy finalist...
(1972) - ice hockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player (NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
), defense - Valdemārs OzoliņšValdemars OzolinšValdemārs Ozoliņš composer and conductor .Valdemārs Ozoliņš songs have been treasured by choirs ever since his triumphant debut during the VI Latvian Song Festival in Riga, Latvia in 1926...
(1896–1973) - composer, conductor
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- Artis PabriksArtis PabriksArtis Pabriks is a Latvian politician, a former Foreign Minister of Latvia and the current Minister of Defence of Latvia....
(1966) - Minister of Foreign Affairs (2007–2007) - Karlis PadegsKarlis PadegsKārlis Padegs is one of Latvia's most popular artists. He studied under noted Latvian painter Vilhelms Purvitis at the Latvia Art Academy. Padegs' style was original and shocking - using themes which were very iconoclastic at the time....
(1911–1940) - Graphic artist, painter - Marian PaharsMarian PaharsMarians Pahars is a Latvian former footballer, currently the manager of Skonto FC. He spent most of his career as a striker at Southampton in the Premier League and with Skonto in Latvia....
(1976) - soccer player for SouthamptonSouthamptonSouthampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
FC, and part of Latvia's national team - Raimonds PaulsRaimonds PaulsRaimonds Pauls is a Latvian and Soviet composer and piano player who is well-known and respected in Latvia and the former Soviet Union.-Music:...
(1936) - popular composer, widely known in Russia - Lucia PekaLucia PekaLucia Peka was a Latvian-American Artist. Born in Latvia, she became part of the Diaspora of artists who fled Latvia during World War II, and eventually settled in the United States where she was a successful painter of landscapes, figures, and still life for almost 50 years...
(1912–1991) - Artist of the Latvian Diaspora - Jekabs PetersYakov PetersJēkabs Peterss or Yakov Khristoforovich Peters was a Latvian Communist revolutionary, Soviet politician, chekist, and terrorist. Together with Feliks Dzerzhinsky, he was one of the founders and chiefs of the VChK...
(1886–1938) - revolutionary and Soviet ChekaChekaCheka was the first of a succession of Soviet state security organizations. It was created by a decree issued on December 20, 1917, by Vladimir Lenin and subsequently led by aristocrat-turned-communist Felix Dzerzhinsky...
leader - Brita Petersone - American model
- Kaspars PetrovsKaspars PetrovsKaspars Petrovs is a Latvian national, and a convicted serial killer. He was convicted of the murder of thirteen elderly women by the Riga Regional Court on May 12, 2005 and sentenced to life in prison....
(1978) - serial killer - Vladimirs PetrovsVladimirs PetrovsVladimirs Petrovs or Vladimir Petrov was a Latvian chess master.He was born in Riga, Latvia. Though he learned the game of chess relatively late, at age thirteen, Petrovs made rapid progress. By 1926, at age 19, he won the Riga Championship and finish third in the national championship...
(1907–1943) - chess player - Oskars PerroOskars PerroOskars Perro was Latvian soldier and writer. First Latvian in second world war, who was awarded with iron cross.- Biography :Oskars Perro was born in Mazsalaca, Latvia at 26 September 1918. He studied medicine in Latvian University....
(1918–2003)- Latvian soldier and writer - Andris PiebalgsAndris PiebalgsAndris Piebalgs is a Latvian politician and diplomat, currently serving as European Commissioner for Development at the European Commission. Between 2004 and 2010 he served as Commissioner for Energy.-Career:...
(1957) - politician, diplomat, European CommissionEuropean CommissionThe European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
er for Energy - Jānis Pliekšāns, (1865–1929) - distinguished Latvian writer, author of a number of poetry collections
- Juris PodnieksJuris PodnieksJuris Podnieks was a Latvian film director and producer.He graduated from the Soviet VGIK film school in 1975, after which he started working at the Riga Film Studio. He became a director in 1979....
(1950–1992) - film director, producer - Nicolai PoliakovsNicolai PoliakoffNicolai Poliakoff OBE was the creator of Coco the Clown, arguably the most famous clown in the UK during the middle decades of the 20th century. Technically, Coco is not a clown but an auguste, the foolish character who is always on the receiving end of buckets of water and custard pies...
(1900–1974) - Coco the Clown - Sandis PrūsisSandis PrusisSandis Prūsis is a Latvian bobsledder who competed from 1983 to 2003. Competing in three Winter Olympics, he earned his best finish of fifth in the two-man event at Nagano in 1998....
(1965) - athlete, bobsleigh - Andrejs PumpursAndrejs PumpursAndrejs Pumpurs was a poet who penned the Latvian epic Lāčplēsis and a prominent figure in the Young Latvia movement.Growing up on both banks of the Daugava river, he was one of three children from the civil...
(1841–1901) - poet, author of Latvian national epic LāčplēsisLacplesisLāčplēsis is an epic poem by Andrejs Pumpurs, a Latvian poet, who wrote it between 1872-1887 based on local legends. Lāčplēsis is regarded as the Latvian national epic.-Synopsis:... - Jānis Pujāts (1930) - Roman Catholic cardinal
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- Einars Repše (1961) - politician
- Lolita RitmanisLolita RitmanisLolita Ritmanis is an American composer. Nominated for ten Emmy Awards, she won the award in 2002 for her work on the animated series Batman Beyond.-Early life:...
(1962, PortlandPortland, OregonPortland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
) - orchestrator, composer - Eliyahu RipsEliyahu RipsEliyahu Rips, also Ilya Rips is a Latvian-born Israeli mathematician known for his research in geometric group theory. He became known to the general public following his coauthoring a paper on the Torah Code....
(1948)- inventor of the Bible Code - Fricis RokpelnisFricis RokpelnisFricis Rokpelnis was a Latvian poet and writer, who is best known for writing the lyrics to the Anthem of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic....
(1909–1969) - author - Mark RothkoMark RothkoMark Rothko, born Marcus Rothkowitz , was a Russian-born American painter. He is classified as an abstract expressionist, although he himself rejected this label, and even resisted classification as an "abstract painter".- Childhood :Mark Rothko was born in Dvinsk, Vitebsk Province, Russian...
(1903–1970) - abstract expressionistAbstract expressionismAbstract expressionism was an American post–World War II art movement. It was the first specifically American movement to achieve worldwide influence and put New York City at the center of the western art world, a role formerly filled by Paris...
painter - Elza RozenbergaAspazijaAspazija was the pen name of Elza Pliekšāne , a Latvian poet and playwright. Aspazija is the Latvian transliteration of Aspasia.- Biography :...
(1865–1943) - poet, playwright, married to Jānis Pliekšāns - Juris RubenisJuris RubenisJuris Rubenis is the best-known Latvian Lutheran pastor.Rubenis has written more than 20 original literature and theology books. More than 10 books have been bestsellers in Latvia, and many of his books have been translated into Lithuanian, German and English...
(1961) - famous Lutheran pastor - Mārtiņš RubenisMartinš RubenisMārtiņš Rubenis is a Latvian luger who has competed since 1998. He won the bronze medal at the men's singles event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, becoming the first Latvian Mārtiņš Rubenis (born 26 September 1978 in Riga) is a Latvian luger who has competed since 1998. He won the bronze...
(1978) - sportsman, bronze medalist at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin - Brunis RubessBrunis RubessBrunis Rubess was a Latvian businessman. From his early life in the Latvian Legion he made the transition from the turmoil in Europe to the life of a very successful businessman in Canada...
(1926) - businessman - Inta RukaInta RukaInta Ruka is a Latvian photographer.Ruka received a scholarship of the Hasselblad Foundation in 1998, the Spidola Award of the Latvian Culture Foundation in 1999 and a scholarship of the Villa Waldberta in Feldafing in 2002...
(1958) - photographer - Tania RussofTania RussofTania Russof is a pornographic film actress.In 1998 she won the Best Actress Award in the Berlin Venus Festival, and was Penthouse Pet of the Month in September 1996 and Pet of the Year runner-up in 1999.- References :...
(1974) - pornographic actressPornographic actorA pornographic actor/actress or a porn star is a person who appears in pornographic film. Most actors appear nude in films...
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- Uļjana Semjonova (1952) - tallest female basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player in the Olympic history, 3-time World Champion - Kārlis SkalbeKarlis SkalbeKārlis Skalbe was a Latvian writer, poet, and activist. He is best known for his 72 fairy tales which are really written for adults. He has been called the 'King of Fairytales', and his words, Tēvzemei un Brīvībai , are inscribed on the Monument of Freedom in Riga.- Childhood and schooling :Skalbe...
(1879–1945) - poet - Baiba SkrideBaiba SkrideBaiba Skride is a Latvian classical violinist. She was the winner of the Queen Elisabeth Violin Contest in 2001, and has performed around the world...
(1981) - violinist - Konstantin SokolskyKonstantin SokolskyKonstantin Sokolsky Russian singer...
(1904–1991) - romanceRomance (music)The term romance has a centuries-long history. Applied to narrative ballads in Spain, it came to be used by the 18th century for simple lyrical pieces not only for voice, but also for instruments alone. During the 18th and 19th centuries Russian composers developed the French variety of the...
and tangoTango musicTango is a style of ballroom dance music in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay . It is traditionally played by a sextet, known as the orquesta típica, which includes two violins, piano, double bass, and two bandoneons...
singer - Raimonds StapransRaimonds StapransRaimonds Staprans is a well-known artist and playwright both in the United States and his native Latvia. Staprans was born in 1926 in Riga, Latvia. He now lives in San Francisco, California with his wife, scientist Ilona Staprāns...
(1926) - Latvian/American painter - Johann SteinhauerJohann SteinhauerJohann Steinhauer was a Latvian entrepreneur, social reformer and landowner, who made significant contributions to the Latvian civil rights throughout the 18th century.-Family:...
(1705–1779) - Latvian Industrialist, Entrepreneur, and Civil Rights Activist. - Lina SternLina SternLina Solomonovna Stern was a notable Soviet biochemist, physiologist and humanist whose medical discoveries saved thousands of lives at the fronts of World War II...
(1878–1968) - biologist and social activist - Henrijs StolovsHenry StolowHenry Stolow was a stamp dealer in Berlin, New York, and Munich who was behind the issue of numerous stamps of doubtful vailidity.-Early life:...
(1901–1971) - stamp dealer - Jānis StreičsJanis StreicsJānis Streičs is a Latvian film director.Streičs' 1991 comedy film Cilvēka bērns was runner-up for the Chicago International Children's Film Festival Rights of the Child Award in 1994...
(1936) - film director, screenwriter, actor - Maris StrombergsMaris ŠtrombergsMāris Štrombergs is a Latvian professional BMX racer. In the 2008 Summer Olympics he became the first Olympic champion in BMX cycling. Earlier that year he won the 2008 UCI BMX World Championships....
- BMX cyclist, gold medal winner at 2008 Olympics - Pēteris StučkaPeteris StuckaPēteris Stučka, sometimes spelt Pyotr Ivanovich Stuchka ; b. in Koknese parish, Governorate of Livonia — d. January 25, 1932 in Moscow) was the head of the Bolshevik government in Latvia during the Latvian War of Independence, one of the leaders of the New Current movement in the late 19th...
(1865–1932) - author, translator, editor, jurist and educator - Evgeny SveshnikovEvgeny SveshnikovEvgeny Ellinovich Sveshnikov is a Latvian, former Soviet International Grandmaster of chess, and a chess writer.-The player:...
(1950) - prominent chess player - Stanislavs Svianievičs (1899–1997) - economist and historian
Š
- Viktors ŠčerbatihsViktors ScerbatihsTotalTotalViktors Ščerbatihs is a Latvian weightlifter and politician and a three-time Olympian for his native country. He is 181 cm tall....
(1974) - athlete, weightlifter - Pauls ŠīmanisPaul SchiemannPaul Schiemann was a Baltic German journalist, editor and politician who was known for his commitment to minority rights.Schiemann was born in Mitau in Courland, then part of the Russian Empire. He grew up in Estonia, was educated in Germany, and served his army training in Lithuania...
(1876–1944) - Baltic German journalist, politician, activist defending and preserving European minority cultures - Aleksejs ŠirovsAlexei ShirovAlexei Dmitrievich Shirov is a Soviet-born Latvian chess grandmaster. He has consistently ranked among the world's top players since the early 1990s, and reached a ranking as high as number four in 1998...
(1972) - one of the top chess grandmasters in the world today. - Haralds SilovsHaralds SilovsHaralds Silovs is a Latvian short track and long track speed skater who became the 2008 European champion in short track. During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, he gained worldwide media attention after competing in the 1500m short track and 5000m long track speed skating events in...
, short trackShort track speed skatingShort track speed skating is a form of competitive ice speed skating. In competitions, multiple skaters skate on an oval ice track with a circumference of 111.12 m...
and long track speed skaterLong track speed skatingSpeed skating is an Olympic sport where competitors are timed while crossing a set distance. It is also a sport for leisure. Sports such as short track speedskating, inline speedskating, and quad speed skating are also called speed skating...
, and first athlete in Olympic history to participate in both short trackShort track speed skating at the 2010 Winter OlympicsThe short track speed skating competition at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was held at Pacific Coliseum 13–26 February 2010.China dominated the competition, sweeping the women's events - winning gold in the 500 m, 1,000 m 1,500 m and 3000 m relay...
and long trackSpeed skating at the 2010 Winter OlympicsThe speed skating competition of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was held at Richmond Olympic Oval between 13 and 27 February 2010.- Notes :Haralds Silovs became the first athlete in Olympic history to participate in both short track and long track speed skating, and the first to compete in two...
speed skating - Andris ŠķēleAndris ŠkeleAndris Šķēle is a Latvian politician and Business oligarch. He has served two terms as Prime Minister of Latvia from 21 December 1995 to 7 August 1997, and from 16 July 1999 to 5 May 2000....
(1958) - politician, Prime Minister of LatviaPrime Minister of LatviaThe Prime Minister of Latvia is the most powerful member of the Government of the Republic of Latvia, and presides over the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers... - Armands ŠķēleArmands SkeleArmands Šķēle is a Latvian professional basketball shooting guard, who plays for BC Kalev/Cramo.-Pro career:In 2008, with the Barons, he won the EuroCup and the Latvian Basketball League championship. He is a member of the Latvian national basketball team.Skele's biggest strength is his scoring...
- basketball player - Ernests ŠtālbergsErnests ŠtalbergsErnests Štālbergs was a Latvian architect whose works are in the Neoclassical and the functionalistic styles. Notable works are the auditorium at the University of Latvia and the ensemble of the Freedom Monument in Riga ....
(1883–1958) - architect, ensemble of the Freedom Monument - Isāks Nahmans ŠteinbergsIsaac Nachman SteinbergIsaac Nachman Steinberg was a lawyer, revolutionary, politician, a leader of the Jewish Territorialist movement and writer in Soviet Russia and in exile.-Early life and first exile:...
(1888–1957) - politician, lawyer and author - Vestards ŠimkusVestards ŠimkusVestards Šimkus is a Latvian pianist and composer.He won the 2001 International Performers Competition in Stockholm, the 2002 Los Angeles' Liszt Competition and the 2009 Maria Canals International Music Competition, and was awarded the Latvian Grand Music Award in 2002...
(1984) - pianist
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- Mihails TālsMikhail TalMikhail Tal was a Soviet–Latvian chess player, a Grandmaster, and the eighth World Chess Champion.Widely regarded as a creative genius, and the best attacking player of all time, he played a daring, combinatorial style. His play was known above all for improvisation and unpredictability....
(1936–1992) - the 8th World Chess Champion - Jānis Roberts Tilbergs (1880–1972) - painter, sculptor
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- Romāns VainšteinsRomans VainsteinsRomāns Vainšteins is a former professional road bicycle racer from Latvia. He won the road race at the 2000 world cycling championship in Plouay, France...
(1973) - former pro cyclist, World Road Champion in 2000 - Krišjānis ValdemārsKrišjanis ValdemarsKrišjānis Valdemārs was a writer, editor, educator, politician, lexicographer, folklorist and economist, the spiritual leader of the first Latvian National Awakening and the most prominent member of the Young Latvia...
(1825–1891) - public figure, writer, publicist and economist - Pauls ValdensPaul WaldenPaul Walden was a Latvian-German chemist known for his work in stereochemistry and history of chemistry. In particular he invented the stereochemical reaction known as Walden inversion and synthesized the first room-temperature ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate.-Early years:Walden was born in...
(1863–1957) - chemist - Miķelis ValtersMikelis ValtersMiķelis Valters was a prominent Latvian politician, diplomat, writer, and editor....
(1874–1968) - state official, journalist, diplomat - Valdis ValtersValdis ValtersValdis Valters is a retired Latvian basketball player.A point guard for the USSR, he is regarded as one of the greatest to have played the game in Europe in the 1980s....
- one of the best European basketball players ever, playmaker - Aleksandrs VanagsAleksandrs VanagsAleksandrs Vanags , aka Alexandre Vanags, was a Latvian football and basketball player. At a young age he debuted in the Latvia national football team, after World War II he played football in France.-Biography:...
(1918–1986) - footballer - Jānis VanagsJanis VanagsJānis Vanags is the archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia . Vanags is seen as a "conservative" on theological or moral issues and opposed women's ordination as well as homosexuality...
(1958-) - Lutheran archbishop - Jūlijs VanagsJulijs VanagsJūlijs Vanags was a Latvian writer and translator, a co-author of the text of the Anthem of Latvian SSR.-References:...
(1903–1984) - author and translator - Pēteris VasksPeteris VasksPēteris Vasks is a Latvian composer.Vasks was born in Aizpute, Latvia, into the family of a Baptist pastor. He trained as a violinist at the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music, as a double-bass player with Vitautas Sereikaan at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, and played in several...
(1946) - contemporary composer - Jukums VācietisJukums VacietisJukums Vācietis was a Latvian Soviet military commander. He was a rare example of notable Soviet leaders who were not members of the Communist Party ....
(1873–1938) - first commander of the Soviet ArmySoviet ArmyThe Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground... - Ojārs VācietisOjars VacietisOjārs Vācietis was a Latvian writer.-References:...
(1933–1983) - poet - Eduards VeidenbaumsEduards VeidenbaumsEduards Veidenbaums was a Latvian poet and translator. Most of his poetry was published posthumously.- Biography :...
(1867–1892) - poet and translator - Makss VeinreihsMax WeinreichMax Weinreich was a linguist, specializing in the Yiddish language, and the father of the linguist Uriel Weinreich, who edited the Modern Yiddish-English English-Yiddish Dictionary.- Biography :Max Weinreich began his studies in a German school in Kuldiga,...
(1893–1969) - linguist - Ed ViestursEd ViestursEdmund Viesturs, known as Ed Viesturs is one of the world's premier high-altitude mountaineers. He is one of only 26 people and the only one from the United States to have climbed all eight-thousander peaks...
(1959) - one of the world's premier high-altitude mountaineers. He is one of only 18 people to have climbed all eight-thousander peaks. - Igors VihrovsIgors VihrovsIgors Vihrovs is a Latvian gymnast, who won the Golden Medal in floor exercise at the 2000 Summer Olympics, and the Bronze Medals in floor exercise in 2000 European Championships and 2001 World Championships. He was the first Olympic gold medalist for Latvia ever.-References:...
(1978) - gymnast, gold medalist at Sydney Olympics in 2000. - Edvarts VirzaEdvarts VirzaEdvarts Virza was a Latvian writer.-References:...
(1883–1940)- famous Latvian writer - Alvis VitolinšAlvis VitolinšAlvis Vītoliņš was a Latvian chess master.Awarded the International Master title in 1980, he was Latvian Champion in 1973 , 1976, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1983 and 1985...
(1946–1997) - chess master - Vaira Vīķe-FreibergaVaira Vike-FreibergaVaira Vīķe-Freiberga was the sixth President of Latvia, the first female President of Latvia and the first female leader in eastern Europe. She was elected President of Latvia in 1999 and re-elected in 2003.Dr...
(1937) - former president - Jāzeps VītolsJazeps Vitols-Biography:Vītols, the son of a schoolteacher, began his studies in composition in 1880 at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. After graduating in 1886, he remained at the Conservatory to teach composition and reached the rank of Professor in 1901. His pupils there...
(1863–1948) - composer - Eduards VeidenbaumsEduards VeidenbaumsEduards Veidenbaums was a Latvian poet and translator. Most of his poetry was published posthumously.- Biography :...
(1867–1892) - Latvian poet. - Māris VerpakovskisMaris VerpakovskisMāris Verpakovskis , is a Latvian football forward, currently playing for the Azerbaijan Premier League club FK Baku in Azerbaijan and the Latvia national football team.-Latvia:...
(1979) - footballer, FC Dynamo Kyiv - Aleksandrs VoitkevičsAleksander WojtkiewiczAleksander Wojtkiewicz was a Polish International Grandmaster of chess. He was born in Latvia. In his early teens he was already a strong player; a student of ex-world champion Mikhail Tal whom he assisted in the 1979 Interzonal tournament in Riga. He won the Latvian Chess Championship in 1981...
(1963–2006) - chess player
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- Kārlis ZāleKarlis ZaleKārlis Zāle was a Latvian sculptor.Kārlis Zāle was born in Mažeikiai, Lithuania. After training in Russia and Germany he returned to Riga, where he both worked in sculpture and taught it. He is best known for his monumental sculptures, including the Brothers' Cemetery and the Freedom Monument in...
(1888–1942) - sculptor, author of the Freedom Monument in Riga - Friedrich ZanderFriedrich ZanderFriedrich Zander , often transliterated Fridrikh Arturovich Tsander, was a pioneer of rocketry and spaceflight in the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union...
(1887–1933) - pioneer of rocketry and spaceflight - Juris ZarinsJuris ZarinsJuris Zarins is an American-Latvian archaeologist and professor at Missouri State University, who specializes in the Middle East....
(1945-) - archaeologist and professor at Missouri State University - Kārlis ZariņšKarlis ZarinšKārlis Reinholds Zariņš was Ambassador and Consul General of Latvia in the United Kingdom. Shortly before the Soviet occupation of Latvia, on 17 May 1940 the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers granted Ambassador Zariņš extraordinary powers...
(Charles Zarine) (1879–1963) - diplomat - Rihards ZariņšRihards ZarinšRihards Zariņš was a prominent Latvian graphic artist.- Life :...
(1869–1939) - graphic artist - Valdis ZatlersValdis ZatlersValdis Zatlers is a Latvian politician and former physician who served as the seventh president of Latvia from 2007 to 2011. He won the Latvian presidential election of 31 May 2007...
(1955) - president - Elmārs ZemgalisElmars ZemgalisElmārs Zemgalis , is a Latvian-American chess master and mathematics professor. He was awarded an Honorary Grandmaster title in 2003.- Biography :...
(1923) - chess player - Gustavs ZemgalsGustavs ZemgalsGustavs Zemgals was a Latvian politician and the second President of Latvia....
(1871–1939) - president - Imants ZemzarisImants ZemzarisImants Zemzaris is a Latvian composer and teacher.His family is famous in Latvia due to his grandfather Janis Endzelins. A native of Riga, he studied in Emils Darzins Music School and Latvia State Conservatory with Adolfs Skulte. Among compositions are chamber and vocal music, as well as music for...
(1951) - contemporary composer - Valdis ZepsValdis ZepsDr. Valdis Juris Zeps was a Latvian-American linguist and college professor.-Early life and family:...
(1932–1996) - author and linguist, pseudonym Jānis Turbads - Imants ZiedonisImants ZiedonisImants Ziedonis is a Latvian poet who first rose to fame during the Soviet occupation period of Latvia.-Early life:Ziedonis was born in the Sloka fisherman's district of Jūrmala, Latvia. He was educated at the University of Latvia in Riga where he earned a degree in philology in 1959. He earned an...
(1933 -) - Latvian poet and folklorist - Kaspars ZnotiņšKaspars ZnotiņšKaspars Znotiņš is a Latvian stage and film actor.Born in Jelgava, Latvia, Znotiņš began his career working on the New Riga Theatre, and has performed in stage productions at the Latvian National Theatre and Dailes Theatre...
(1975-) - stage and film actor
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- Sergejs ŽoltoksSergei ZholtokSergejs Žoltoks was a Latvian professional ice hockey center who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators....
(1972–2004) - ice hockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player (NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
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