Why was the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906?

The Nobel Peace Prize is among the five awards established by Alfred Nobel. The Peace Prize has been awarded annually since 1901 to either a person or an organization. As of 2017, a total of 104 men and women have won the prize while 23 organizations have been awarded.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) was the 26th President of the U.S. from 1901 to 1909. He assumed the presidency at the age of 42 after the assassination of President William McKinley.

He was considered a collaborator of various peace treaties while serving as the President of the United States. When he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906, the commentary read: “for his role in bringing to an end the bloody war (1904-1905) recently waged between two of the world’s great powers, Japan and Russia.” He played a role in the development of the Treaty of Portsmouth, by guiding the two countries through 12 sessions that resulted in the agreement signed on September 5, 1905.

His life was a most colorful and varied one and included serving in the Spanish-American War of 1898, being an explorer of the Amazon basin, a police commissioner and avid sportsman.

Roosevelt was the first American to be awarded the Peace Prize.