Famous people from Porvoo

These cobblestone streets and neighborhoods have been graced by renowned artists, industrial magnates, Olympic athletes, brilliant inventors, and even those whose fame has spread far and wide, albeit for questionable reasons.

One example of this is Ulrika Möllersvärd (1791–1878), a celebrity of her time who was known as the mistress of Alexander I, the charismatic russian emperor.

The list of famous people from Porvoo is almost endless, so we narrowed it down to ten based on their fame (and using our own discretion). Or about ten.

Fredrika Runeberg was the first female journalist in Finland and one of the country’s first female authors, who, among other things, wrote the first historical novel in Finnish. A true pioneer!

Fredrika Runeberg was also an advocate for equality, education, and equal rights, as well as a skilled cook and gardener, whose green thumb can still be admired in the garden of J. L. Runeberg’s home.

In the 19th century, women’s voices had no place in public discourse, and Fredrika felt guilty about taking a stand in social debates. She even hid her historical novel in her desk drawer.

Of course, Fredrika also baked Runeberg’s cake. For this reason alone, and especially for all the reasons mentioned above, she deserves her place at the top of the list of famous people from Porvoo.

Did you know that Fredrika Runeberg was living in Turku when the great fire of 1827 burned down the city and destroyed Fredrika’s home, possessions, and literary works?

J. L. Runeberg, Finland’s national poet, teacher, headmaster, and editor, is probably the most famous person from Porvoo.

He was born in Pietarsaari and moved to Porvoo in 1837 after getting a job as a teacher at Borgå Gymnasium. In addition to his teaching career, he edited the Borgå Tidning newspaper, revised the Swedish-language hymnal, and had six children. J. L. Runeberg is best known for the lyrics of the Finnish national anthem, Maamme, and many hymns, as well as the stories of Vänrikki Stool.

The Runebergs had a summer residence in Kroksnäs, Porvoo, and a home on Aleksanterinkatu. Their home was visited by many admirers and prominent figures in Finnish art and science. You too can visit the house.

Did you know that Runeberg was particularly fond of sweets, which is why it is customary to enjoy Runeberg’s cakes on Runeberg Day on February 5th? You can get them in Porvoo all year round.

Of Johan and Fredrika Runeberg’s seven sons, one had no literary talent whatsoever. What would become of him? A famous artist!

Walter Magnus Runeberg, who spent his childhood in Porvoo, created over a hundred sculptures during his lifetime. He was known for his portraits of notable Nordic figures and Finnish greats. The most famous of these are the statues of Pietari Brahe in Raahe and Turku, the monument to Alexander II in Senate Square, and the statues of his father, J. L. Runeberg, in Helsinki and Porvoo.

Did you know that Walter Runeberg is one of Finland’s best-known sculptors in the world?

Without Sparre, there would be no Old Porvoo, and without Old Porvoo, the whole city would be missing its heart.

At the end of the 19th century, Old Porvoo was in poor condition and threatened with demolition. Then Count Louis Sparre gave a speech that is considered to have saved Old Porvoo. The speech was also published as a small booklet with illustrations by Louis Sparre.

Born in Italy, Sparre was a multi-talented artist, graphic designer, furniture designer, writer, and active reformer of cultural life. He moved to Porvoo in 1897 and fell deeply in love with the city’s idyllic landscapes, wooden neighborhoods, and winding alleys. He also immortalized them in his art.

Louis Sparre founded a factory called Iris in Porvoo, which manufactured furniture and ceramic objects. The factory was located at the intersection of Mannerheiminkatu and Kaivokatu.

Did you know that Louis Sparre directed the first Finnish film, Salaviinanpolttajat (The Moonshiners), together with Teuvo Puro in 1907, and that he also competed in fencing at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics?

If Louis Sparre was a multi-talented man, so was his wife.

Eva Mannerheim-Sparre was a successful Finnish artist and one of the pioneers of Nordic book art. One of her most notable works is the cover of the congratulatory address sent to the Danish royal couple on their golden wedding anniversary.

Mannerheim-Sparre was also a teacher at the Ateneum School of Art and a writer, known in particular for her travelogues, memoirs, and cookbook Kokbok för finsmakare och vanliga hungriga (Cookbook for Gourmets and Ordinary Hungry People).

Eva Mannerheim-Sparre founded a design agency together with her husband Louis Sparre and also designed handicraft patterns.

In Porvoo, Eva Mannerheim-Sparre lived with her family in the pink Villa Wilhelmsberg, which still overlooks the sea opposite Porvoo Hospital, along Tarkkistentie.

Did you know that Eva Mannerheim-Sparre’s brother was Finnish Marshal and President Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, her sister was nursing pioneer Sofia Mannerheim, and her father was the well-known count, businessman, and statesman Carl Robert Mannerheim?

Adolf Lindfors (1879–1959), a baker from Porvoo, won Olympic gold in the heaviest weight class in Greco-Roman wrestling in 1920 at the ripe old age of 41. He remains Finland’s oldest Olympic gold medalist.

Perhaps lifting sacks of flour and masses of sweets paved his way to Olympic victory. Adolf Lindfors was the son of A. W. Lindfors, the founder of Brunberg. The factory was formerly known as A. W. Lindfors’ caramel and marmalade factory.

Another baker from Porvoo, Arthur Lindfors (1893–1977), also won an Olympic medal. He won Olympic silver twice in Greco-Roman wrestling.

Porvoo was also home to long-distance runner Lauri Lehtinen (1908–1973) and Heikki Liimatainen (1894–1980), one of the top endurance athletes of the 1920s.

Did you know that Porvoo was also the host city for the 1952 Olympics? Some of the field hockey matches were played at Porvoo Central Stadium.

Carl Wilhelm “Ville” Vallgren, one of Finland’s most famous sculptors, was born and raised in Porvoo, but studied sculpture in Paris. In Finland, Vallgren was therefore known as Ville of Paris.

Vallgren was an unparalleled socialite and a star of cultural circles, whose sculptures earned him fame both in Finland and abroad. The themes of Vallgren’s sculptures were often religion, emotions, or women. He is best known in Finland for his statue Havis Amanda.

Did you know that Vallgren’s family kept pigs running free indoors and outdoors? One of the pigs, Sicapelle, was killed by Gallen-Kallela’s dogs, Kova and Kiiva. The restaurant Sicapelle in Porvoo is named after the Vallgren family’s pig.

A hundred years ago, unmarried mothers were in a weak position. When the father of an illegitimate child shirked his responsibility, the woman became an outcast in society and often even in her own family.

Alva Forsius, the daughter of a Porvoo landowner, wanted to do something to help women. She was involved in bringing the Salvation Army to Finland, whose first leader was another prominent figure from Porvoo, Constantin Axel Lenid af Gennäs (1854–1934). Constantin Axel Lenid af Gennäs was also a farmer who, among other things, developed a variety of oats commonly grown in Finland.

Back to Alva: After working for 10 years in the Salvation Army, Alva Forsius trained as a midwife and worked as a respected manager in a hospital maternity ward. She saw the plight of unmarried mothers and founded a private maternity hospital in Porvoo in 1899.

This radical woman from Porvoo also founded one of Finland’s first mother and child homes, where mothers could stay with their children for six months immediately after giving birth. At Solhem, mothers were taught childcare skills and gained professional skills in handicrafts.

Alva Forsius also wrote several guidebooks for expectant mothers. These books are considered the cornerstones of modern maternity and child health care.

Did you know that Alva had three adopted daughters?

The heart of Albert Edelfelt, a man of the world, beat for Porvoo and its inhabitants, as Porvoo was his birthplace.

Like many artists of his time, Edelfelt studied in Paris, which became his home for the rest of his life. He won numerous awards for his works depicting Parisian women and Parisian salons, but above all for his depictions of Finnish and Porvoo landscapes.

When Albert Edelfelt’s mother rented a summer villa on the grounds of the Haikko estate in 1879, the artist fell so in love with the scenery that he returned to Porvoo every summer until his death.

Porvoo inspired the internationally renowned painter so much that he painted over 220 works here. The most famous of these are Porvoo as seen from Näsinmäki, Boys playing on the shore, and Summer Evening in Haikonselkä. You can find more information about the works and the places associated with them here:

Porvoo’s Haikko also houses Albert Edelfelt’s studio, which showcases the artist’s life and works.

Did you know that Ville Vallgren and Albert Edelfelt were good friends, but Edelfelt also knew the Runebergs well, especially Fredrika and Robert? Edelfelt illustrated J. L. Runeberg’s stories about Vänrikki Stool.

The Porvoo archipelago has always attracted summer residents. Its islands and islets have offered artists, researchers, and busy businesspeople peace, nature experiences, and inspiration.

The most famous summer resident of Porvoo is probably Tove Jansson, the creator of the Moomins. The Jansson family rented a summer cottage in Pellinki as early as the 1920s, and later Tove Jansson spent her summers on the island of Klovharu in Pellinki with her spouse, graphic artist Tuulikki Pietilä. The Pellinki archipelago served as inspiration for Tove’s Moomin stories.

Textile artist and Marimekko Oy founder Armi Ratia and President Risto Ryti have also spent their holidays in Porvoo. Ryti’s summer cottage, which is listed as a protected site, is located on the Sundmalm farm in the village of Gäddrag in Porvoo.

Did you know that there is still an outhouse in Pellinki with drawings scribbled on the walls by a teenage Tove Jansson? One of the drawings depicts a character called Snork, who resembles a Moomin in appearance. Jansson called her first Moomin characters Snork.

One of them is Finland’s largest publishing company, WSOY, which was once the pride of Porvoo and a major employer.

It was founded by Werner Söderström (1860–1914) from Porvoo, one of the most significant pioneers of Finnish-language publishing. What could be more fitting than to establish a publishing company in Porvoo, where so many famous Finnish authors have lived? Or perhaps it was the other way around, and the famous authors attracted the publishing company to Porvoo!

Werner Söderström was the son of a bookseller who began publishing books at the age of 18. In 1888, he bought the printing house his father had founded and expanded it into a large and successful publishing company. Werner played a very significant role in the rise of Finnish-language literature and culture at the end of the 19th century.

August Eklöf (1837–1912), who lived around the same time, became known as a merchant and industrialist who had a hand in many successful ventures. Among other things, he owned a horseshoe factory, a brick factory, a sulphite pulp mill, and a timber company in Porvoo, as well as steam sawmills in Porvoo and elsewhere in Finland. He was also involved in establishing steamship and railway companies.

August Eklöf provided financial support for the establishment of the Porvoo Museum and was one of the founders of Finland’s first folk high school.

Did you know that WSOY operated for a long time in the WSOY building on Mannerheiminkatu, but it actually started in the courtyard building of the so-called Hopea house, an old barn. The same building still stands on the corner of Rihkamakatu and Piispankatu.