The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Kallio, Kyösti
(kü´öst käl´lyô) (KEY) , 18731940, Finnish political leader. Of peasant background, he entered politics and was a vocal advocate of Finnish independence from Russia. Minister of agriculture in the newly independent government (191720, 192122), he was instrumental in inaugurating land redistribution. He served a number of times as prime minister (192224, 192526, 192930, and 193637) and was president of Finland from 1937 to Nov., 1940. Illness and strain brought on by the Finnish-Russian War of 193940 led to his resignation.