A
portrait of
Antanas Smetona, the first
President of Lithuania, a signatory to the
Act of Independence of Lithuania, as well as the last President before the country's occupation by the
Soviet Union in
World War II. During his second term, he expanded the powers of the office and became an authoritarian head of state. Prior to the Soviet invasion, Smetona proposed armed resistance, but was overruled by his army. He fled the country, eventually emigrating to the
United States. Smetona died in
Cleveland, Ohio, in 1944. His remains are currently buried in
Chardon, Ohio.
Photo from: National Museum of Lithuania