# Antanas Merkys

_Lithuanian politician (1887-1955)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/antanas-merkys
Last updated: 2026-11-08

> Antanas Merkys was the last Prime Minister of independent Lithuania, serving from November 1939 to June 1940. When the Soviet Union presented an ultimatum to Lithuania demanding that it accept a Soviet garrison, President Antanas Smetona fled the country, leaving Merkys as acting president. Merkys ostensibly cooperated with the Soviets, and illegally took over the presidency in his own right. After three days, Merkys handed power to Justas Paleckis, who formed the People's Government of Lithuania. When Merkys attempted to flee the country, he was captured and deported to the interior of Russia, where he died in 1955.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 1 February 1887 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q571011#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Skapiškis ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q571011#P19))
- **Died:** 5 March 1955 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q571011#P570))
- **Place of death:** Vladimir Oblast ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q571011#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Lithuania ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q571011#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; lawyer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q571011#P106))
- **Political party:** Lithuanian Nationalist and Republican Union ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q571011#P102))
- **Education:** Riga Alexander Gymnasium; Imperial University of Dorpat; Faculty of Law of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q571011#P69))
- **Positions held:** President of the Republic of Lithuania (15 June 1940 – 17 June 1940); Prime Minister of Lithuania (21 November 1939 – 17 June 1940) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q571011#P39))
- **Awards:** Knight of the Order of the Cross of Vytis ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q571011#P166))

## Questions

**When was Antanas Merkys born?**  
Antanas Merkys was born on 1 February 1887 in Skapiškis.

**What positions has Antanas Merkys held?**  
Positions held by Antanas Merkys include: President of the Republic of Lithuania (1940–1940); Prime Minister of Lithuania (1939–1940).

**Where did Antanas Merkys study?**  
Antanas Merkys was educated at Riga Alexander Gymnasium, Imperial University of Dorpat, Faculty of Law of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

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- [Kazys Grinius](https://diginpl.com/people/kazys-grinius)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Antanas Merkys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antanas_Merkys) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q571011](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q571011) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Antanas Merkys.jpg by ltwiki (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Antanas_Merkys.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Antanas Merkys, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Antanas Merkys.jpg — ltwiki, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Antanas Merkys". DigiNepal. Last updated 8 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/antanas-merkys. Retrieved 8 November 2026.