Biography of an Estonian
Toomas Hendrik Ilves was born on December 26th, 1953 in Stockholm, Sweden. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Columbia University (1976) and a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania(1978). Ilves has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2004. He is also the First Vice-President of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, a member of the European Parliament USA Delegation, a Substitute Member of the European Parliament Russia Delegation.
From 1984-1988, he was an analyst in the research unit of Radio Free Europe in Munich, Germany. From 1988-1993 he was the head of the Estonian desk in Radio Free Europe (Munich). In 1993-1996, he was Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico. From 1996-1998 and 1999-2002, he served as Estonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Toomas Hendrik Ilves is married to Evelin Ilves and has three children, a son and daughter from his first marriage and a daughter from his second marriage. His official residence is the Ärma farm in Viljandi county.