Pekka Aakula

Petter "Pekka" Aakula (2 September 1866 – 11 June 1928) was a Finnish schoolteacher and Social Democratic politician. He served in the Parliament of Finland in 1909–1911 and again in 1914–1917, becoming one of the leading Social Democrats in Kuopio at the start of the 20th century. He died in Karttula, aged 61.

Early life and teaching career Aakula was born in Mynämäki to tenant farmer Jeremia Matinpoika Aakula (1830–1912) and Johanna Heikintytär Juhala (1824–1875). After local primary schooling and two years at the Uusikaupunki Realschule, he attended the Jyväskylä Teacher Seminary, graduating in 1891. He joined the Kuopio Workers’ Association in spring 1905, later chairing it, and was active in launching the newspaper Savon Työmies, the Savon Workers’ Printing House and the Savon Workers’ Savings Bank.

In August 1918 a court sentenced him to three years for “assisting treason” because of a strike-speech he had delivered the previous autumn, but he was paroled immediately.

Personal life In 1895 Aakula married schoolteacher Hilda Maria Keinänen (1870–1958). They had six children, four of whom died in childhood.