Count Richard Nikolaus von Coudenhove-Kalergi, (Tokio, 17th November 1894 to Schrum, Voralberg, 27th July 1972 ) was the son of a Austro-Hungarian count and diplomat, and a Japanese mother. He studied history and philosophy at the University of Vienna and worked as journalist and editor of the journal "Paneuropa". He is recognised as the founder of the first popular movement for a united Europe. In 1923 he published a manifesto entitled ‘’Pan-Europa’’, each copy contained a membership form which invited the reader to become a member of the Pan-Europa movement. Later he published his main work, "The fight for Paneuropa" (1925-1928) in three volumes. His ideas influenced Aristide Briand and his speech in the League of Nations on the 8th of September 1929. After the annexation of Austria by the Third Reich he fled to France in 1938, and subsequently to the United States in 1940. There he taught at the New York University until 1945, when he returned to France. In the U.S.A. he published his work "Crusade for Paneurope" in 1944. In France, after his return, he founded the European Parliamentary Union. At the Conference of this Union in 1947 (8-12 September) he argued that the constitution of a wide market with a stable currency is the vehicle for Europe to reconstruct its potential and take the place it deserves within the concert of Nations.

In 1950 he received the Karlspreis Award (engl.: Charlemagne Award), given by the German city of Aachen to people who contributed to the European idea and European peace.