Edgar Kant 1902-1978

Into a cordial and well-to-do home in Tallinn, Estonia, Edgar Kant was born on 21 February 1902. His father, Jüri Kant, was a merchant and his mother, née Elise Ruval, had a rural background. From the wide circle of friends and associates who found hospitality at the Kant home young Edgar apparently imbibed a global perspective on life and a curiosity about languages and different styles of thought. From his mother he learned about the rich Estonian record of folk lore, its history, culture, and geography. Liberal in politics yet staunchly patriotic, the atmosphere of Kant’s childhood was one which encouraged study of international affairs, science, a rational attitude toward economic and social matters, and a strong love for nature. All of these values shine through in Edgar Kant’s life and work. A geographer he became and a conscientious citizen, Rector of Tartu’s University, fully embarked on a potentially brilliant scholarly career when his country was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1944. As an involuntary exile in Sweden, however, he was an inspiration to students and colleagues at the University of Lund, where he spent the rest of his life, from 1944 to 1970.