Rapolas Skipitis | |
---|---|
Minister of the Interior | |
In office 19 June 1920 – 18 January 1922 | |
Prime Minister | Kazys Grinius |
Preceded by | Eliziejus Draugelis |
Succeeded by | Kazimieras Oleka |
Personal details | |
Born | Baukai , Smilgiai, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire | 31 January 1887
Died | 23 February 1976 Chicago, United States | (aged 89)
Resting place | Lithuanian National Cemetery[1] |
Political party | Democratic National Freedom League (Santara) Farmers' Party |
Alma mater | Moscow State University |
Rapolas Skipitis (31 January 1887 – 23 February 1976) was a Lithuanian attorney and politician. In 1920–1922, he was Minister of the Interior and was later elected to the Second and Third Seimas. After the 1926 coup d'état, he chaired the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union (1927–1928), Society for the Support of Lithuanians Abroad (1932–1940), and several other Lithuanian organizations. He also edited several newspapers, including Ūkininko balsas (1925–1928), Trimitas (1927–1928), Namų savininkas and Pasaulio lietuvis (1937–1940). At the start of World War II, he retreated to Germany and joined the Lithuanian Activist Front. He was reserved the seat of Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Provisional Government of Lithuania. After the war, he settled in Chicago where he was active in Lithuanian American cultural life.