Villem Reiman 150

Villem Reiman (1861-1917) was an outstanding Estonian public figure - historian, journalist, ardent speaker for the idea of independence, promoter of temperance and the establishment of societies, honorary alumnus of the Estonian Student Society, originator of the fundamental principles of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, paver of the way to independence and its cultural development. As member of the Estonian Student Society, Reiman took part in the consecration of the blue, black and white flag on 4 June in St Mary’s of Otepää and in 1886 became chairman of the society. In 1887 he graduated from Tartu University as a candidate of divinity and began working as clergyman at Kolga-Jaani in 1989, first as assistant minister and from late 1890 as minister. When the Estonian national movement fell to its nadir, Reiman along with persons who shared his ideas (Oskar Kallas, Heinrich (Henrik) Koppel) bought the newspaper Postimees and asked Jaan Tõnisson to become its editor-in-chief. Reiman also had an important role as a hobby historian, writing the first more or less scholarly overview of the history of Estonia; until that time only foreigners had published their visions of the situation in the country.