Dag Hammarskjöld

Lore & Background

Dag Hammarskjöld was a Swedish economist and diplomat who served as the second Secretary-General of the United Nations from April 1953 until his death. He remains the youngest person ever elected to the post, having been only 47 years old at the time. He was the son of Hjalmar Hammarskjöld, who had been Prime Minister of Sweden. His tenure was marked by efforts to strengthen the newly-formed UN both internally and externally, including initiatives to improve morale and organizational efficiency while making the organization more responsive to global issues. He presided over the creation of the first UN peacekeeping forces in Egypt and the Congo, and personally intervened to defuse or resolve diplomatic crises. His second term was cut short when he died in a plane crash on 18 September 1961 while en route to cease-fire negotiations during the Congo Crisis. He is well regarded internationally as a capable diplomat and administrator, and his efforts led to him being the only posthumous recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. In the Western world, his tenure was hailed as notably successful; U.S. president John F. Kennedy called him "the greatest statesman of our century." However, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the broader Global South, his legacy is extremely controversial due to his erratic performance during the Congo Crisis, with consequences that persist to this day.

Reader's Guide

Hammarskjöld’s tenure as Secretary-General was defined by his efforts to strengthen the United Nations both internally and externally. He worked to improve organizational morale and efficiency while making the UN more responsive to global challenges. He oversaw the establishment of the first UN peacekeeping forces, deployed in Egypt (UNEF) and the Congo (ONUC), and personally intervened in diplomatic crises to defuse tensions. His second term ended abruptly when he died in a plane crash while traveling to cease-fire negotiations during the Congo Crisis. Internationally, he is widely regarded as a capable diplomat and administrator, and his crisis-resolution efforts made him the only person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize posthumously. In the Western world, his leadership was hailed as highly successful; U.S. President John F. Kennedy called him “the greatest statesman of our century.” However, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the broader Global South, his legacy remains deeply controversial due to his erratic performance during the Congo Crisis, the consequences of which persist today.

Did You Know?

• Hammarskjöld died in a plane crash on 18 September 1961 en route to cease-fire negotiations during the Congo Crisis.
• He was succeeded by U Thant, who was appointed Acting Secretary-General six weeks after Hammarskjöld's death.
• The Security Council recommended Thant in Resolution 168 on 3 November 1961 to fill the remainder of Hammarskjöld's term.
• Hammarskjöld's death occurred before the Cuban Missile Crisis, which Thant helped defuse in October 1962.