Mohammad Hatta

Mohammad Hatta (August 12, 1902 - March 14, 1980) was an Indonesian statesman and nationalist who served as the country's first vice president. Known as "The Proclamator," he and a group of Indonesians, including the country's first president, Soekarno, fought for Indonesia's independence from the Dutch. She is remembered as one of the most important historical figures in Indonesia.

Hatta was born in the Dutch East Indies town of Fort de Kock (now Bukittinggi, Indonesia). Following his primary education, he attended Dutch schools in the Dutch East Indies and later studied in the Netherlands from 1921 to 1932.

Hatta was appointed as Indonesia's first vice president by the PPKI on August 18, 1945, to accompany Sukarno, who had been elected as the country's first president. Hatta would make three critical decisions in the early days of the republic. Hatta issued an edict on October 16th conferring legislative powers on the Central National Committee of Indonesia (KNIP), in addition to its advisory role to the president. Hatta also authorized the formation of political parties in Indonesia in the same month. The following month, in November, Hatta made the decision to delegate the president's role as Head of Government to a prime minister. Hatta was able to make these critical decisions because Sukarno was unable to attend the relevant meetings, leaving Hatta in command. Sukarno, for his part, did not appear to disagree with Hatta's decisions, at least not during the War of Independence.

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport bears his name. Hatta was honored with the naming of a dormitory building for international students on the Erasmus University Rotterdam campus in 2014.

Birthdate: August 12, 1902

Died: March 14, 1980