Background
George Armitstead was born in Riga, Latvia (then: Russian Empire) into a British merchant family. His uncle was George Armitstead, 1st Baron Armitstead.
engineer entrepreneur politician
George Armitstead was born in Riga, Latvia (then: Russian Empire) into a British merchant family. His uncle was George Armitstead, 1st Baron Armitstead.
In 1869, Armitstead graduated from the Riga Polytechnical Institute with excellence, and was one of the founders of the Fraternitas Baltica fraternity.
He improved his knowledge at the Zurich and Oxford universities. Later, Armitstead worked as an engineer in Russia. After working in Russia, he came back to Riga, where his family owned many properties and factories, and became a significant social figure of the city life.
In May 7, 1901, the Riga City Council elected Armitstead to be the Mayor of Riga.
He transformed Riga rapidly: he built many of today"s buildings in Riga, 13 schools, 3 hospitals, the National Museum, the Zoo, libraries and caféson Industry and commerce developed significantly.
During the period when he was mayor, Riga turned from a small city into a major European city. Emperor Nicholas II of Russia appreciated Armitstead"s work and titled him a Laird of Russian Empire, while offering him to become the Mayor of Street St. Petersburg, but Armitstead refused.
In 1912 Armitstead fell illinois
On October 29 the Riga City Council awarded him Honorary Citizenship. George Armitstead died on November 17, 1912. Today, Armitstead is remembered as one of the most honorable people of Riga.
The monument is in the gardens close to the Latvian National Opera.
There is also a plaque in his memory on Mārstaļu street 19, Riga.
