Paul Henri Spaak

Paul Henri Spaak (1899-1972), Belgian statesman, born in Schaerbeek, near Brussels. He received an LL.D. degree from the University of Brussels and practised law for ten years until 1932, when he was elected Socialist deputy from Brussels to the Chamber of Representatives. Later he served in a number of Cabinet posts in Belgium. He was minister of foreign affairs (1936-1938, 1939-1945, 1954-1957, and 1961-1966) and prime minister (1938-1939, 1946, and 1947-1949). He was also long active in international organizations. In 1946 he served as the first president of the United Nations General Assembly. He was also instrumental in forming the Council of Europe in 1949 and served as its first president. Spaak played key roles in the creation of the European Communities. From 1957 to 1961 he was secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. From 1966 on, Spaak was a director of a large international business organization.