About Otto Donner
Lived 1835 – 1909 (aged 73). Otto Donner was a Finnish linguist, politician, university teacher and philologist.
Otto Donner (15 December 1835, Kokkola – 17 September 1909, Helsinki) was a Finnish linguist and politician.
Biography He was professor of Sanskrit and Comparative Indo-European linguistics at the University of Helsinki, but also studied the Finno-Ugric languages. He was a member of the Diet of Finland 1877–1905, and minister of education 1905–1908. He was also influential in the founding of the Finno-Ugrian Society in 1883. He was elected as a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1886.
His mother tongue was Swedish, but he was a fennoman by conviction. He had many children: Ossian, Otto Jr., Uno, Kai, Harry and Eva Louise.
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Otto Donner?
Finnish linguist and politician (1835–1909)
When was Otto Donner born?
Otto Donner was born on 15 December 1835 in Kokkola.
When did Otto Donner die?
Otto Donner died on 17 September 1909 in Helsinki.
What was Otto Donner's occupation?
Otto Donner was a linguist, politician, university teacher and philologist.
What nationality was Otto Donner?
Otto Donner was Finnish.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Otto Donner. https://biography.guide/otto-donner/
MLA: "Otto Donner." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/otto-donner/.
Chicago: "Otto Donner." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/otto-donner/.
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