Selection and Appointment of Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld

Dag Hammarskjöld served as the second United Nations Secretary-General, from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash in Africa in September 1961.

Process in 1953

Nomination of candidates

Dag Hammarskjöld (Sweden)
Lester B. Pearson (Canada)
Carlos P. Romulo (Philippines)
Nasrollah Entezam (Iran)
Luis Padilla Nervo (Mexico)

Recommendation of the Security Council

Official documents

S/PV.617: Official communiqué of the 617th (closed) meeting of the Security Council, 31 March 1953

Dag Hammarskjöld shakes hands with Trygve Lie at the bottom of the stairs coming down the plane — The new Secretary-General designate of the United Nations, Dag Hammarskjöld (right) of Sweden, arrived in New York by air from Stockholm today. He will be inducted tomorrow afternoon at a ceremony to be held before the General Assembly. UN Photo

Communication of recommendation to the General Assembly

Official document

Letter dated 31 March 1953 from the President of the Security Council addressed to the President of the General Assembly (S/2975)

Appointment by the General Assembly

Official documents

Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld portrayed in front of the newly built United Nations headquarters — Dag Hammarskjöld, Secretary-General of the United Nations, photographed in front of the Headquarters' buildings. UN Photo/MB

Process in 1957

Nomination of candidates

Dag Hammarskjöld (Sweden)

Recommendation of the Security Council

Official documents

S/PV.792: Official communiqué of the 792nd (closed) meeting of the Security Council, 26 September 1957

View of the General Assembly podium with UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold (left), Sir Leslie Munro, President of the 12th session of the General Assembly (center), and Mr. Andrew Cordier, Executive Assistant to the Secretary-General (right). — The United Nations General Assembly, which opened its 12th regular Session on 17 September 1957 at United Nations Headquarters in New York, unanimously re-elected Mr. Dag Hammarskjold to a second five-year term as Secretary-General of the UN.UN Photo/MB

Communication of recommendation to the General Assembly

Official document

Letter dated 26 September 1957 from the President of the Security Council to the President of the General Assembly (A/3682)

Appointment by the General Assembly

Official documents

UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold — The UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld on official travel. UN Photo/HP