Spaak, << spahk, >> Paul-Henri (1899-1972), was a European statesman and the first Socialist prime minister of Belgium. He helped guide the redevelopment of Europe after World War II (1939-1945).
Spaak was born on Jan. 25, 1899, near Brussels. His political career as a Socialist leader began in the Belgian Chamber of Deputies in 1932. Starting in 1935, Spaak served in several Cabinet posts, most often as foreign minister. He served as Belgium’s prime minister from 1938 to 1939, briefly in 1946, and from 1947 to 1949. Spaak also worked to establish Benelux. This economic union of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg was organized in 1944. Spaak presided over the first session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1946.
In 1952, Spaak was elected president of the Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community. From 1957 to 1961, he served as secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Spaak died on July 31, 1972.
