Franz Jonas

Who was Franz Jonas?

Franz Josef Jonas was an Austrian political figure. He served as the seventh President of Austria, between 1965 and 1974.

He was a typesetter by profession and a member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria. After World War II he got involved in Viennese communal politics and was mayor of Vienna from 1951 to 1965. From 1965, he was federal president and was re-elected in 1971.

He was a fervent supporter of Esperanto, and starting in 1923, became a long-time instructor of the language. Reportedly, he addressed the 1970 World Congress of Esperanto which was held in Vienna with perfect Esperanto.

In 1974, he died in office, the fourth consecutive President to do so.

In Vienna, a large tram station officially called Schottentor which was built when he was mayor is colloquially named after him.

In 1966 he was awarded the Grand Cross of The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav with Collar, and in 1969 the Pierre de Coubertin medal.