Editing Risto Ryti (section)

==Early life and career==
Risto Ryti was born in [[Huittinen]], [[Satakunta (region)|Satakunta]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huittinen.fi/tietoa_huittisista/presidentti_risto_ryti|title=Tietoa Huittisista: Presidentti Risto Ryti 1889-1956|publisher=Town of Huittinen|access-date=28 December 2021|language=fi}}</ref> one of seven sons, among 10 siblings. His parents were Kaarle Evert Ryti, a farmer, and Ida Vivika Junttila. Although he came from a peasant farming background, during his childhood Ryti hardly participated in work on the family's large farm, being a bookish and academically inclined boy.{{sfnp|Turtola|2000|page=403}} He was educated briefly at [[Porin Lyseo|Pori Grammar School]], and was then tutored at home, before enrolling in the [[University of Helsinki]] in 1906 to study [[law]]. Ryti was the only one among his brothers to pass the university [[entrance examination]]; however his three sisters also [[Matriculation|matriculated]].{{sfnp|Turtola|2000|page=404}}

Ryti graduated in autumn 1909 as Finland was moving into the [[Russification of Finland|second period of Russification]]. Escaping an oppressive political atmosphere in the capital, Ryti returned to his roots in Satakunta, where he established himself as a lawyer in [[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]]. During this period he became acquainted with [[Alfred Kordelin]], one of Finland's richest men. Ryti became Kordelin's lawyer, and eventually the two men became close friends.{{sfnp|Turtola|2000|page=404}} During this period Ryti also undertook further studies, becoming a [[Master of Laws]] in 1912. In the spring of 1914 he moved to [[Oxford]] to study [[maritime law]], but the outbreak of [[World War I]] forced him to return to Finland. In 1916 he married Gerda Paula Serlachius (1886–1984).{{sfnp|Turtola|2000|page=405}}<ref name="KB">{{cite web |title=Ryti, Gerda (1886-1984) |url=https://kansallisbiografia.fi/kansallisbiografia/henkilo/8088 |website=Kansallisbiografia.fi |publisher=National Biography of Finland |language=fi}}</ref> They had three children, Henrik (1916–2002), Niilo (1919–1997), and Eva (1922–2009).<ref>{{cite book |title=Kuka Kukin On (Who's Who) |date=1978 |via=[[Project Gutenberg]] |location=Helsinki |page=826 |url=https://runeberg.org/kuka/1978/0826.html |access-date=10 April 2023 |language=fi}}</ref><ref name="KB"/>

In the period after the outbreak of World War I, before Finland achieved its independence, Ryti's business relationship with Kordelin grew even closer, and it appeared likely that Kordelin would ask Ryti to become general manager of his numerous business enterprises. However, in November 1917 Ryti and his wife witnessed the murder of Kordelin at the hands of a Russian [[Bolshevik]].{{sfnp|Turtola|2000|page=405}} Russian seamen led by a Finnish tailor took Kordelin's party hostage, with the intent to rob them. Ryti, Kordelin's lawyer, refused to legally authorize the robbery despite being threatened at gunpoint. Armed [[Suojeluskunta|White Guard]] soldiers were however present and the situation deteriorated into a gunfight. 20 people including Kordelin were killed. Ryti was saved by a malfunction in the enemy's firearm.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9903227|title = "Ase sano klik vaan" – tuleva presidentti Risto Ryti pelastui täpärästi venäläismatruusien luodeilta marraskuun 1917 kahakassa| date=28 October 2017 }}</ref>