Švirksts was a municipality employee and the Head of Daugavpils. He was born in Šlosbergs house in Daugavpils county, Jersika parish. In 1915 he graduated Livenhof School (current Livani territory). After graduation Švirksts worked in railway service, but in 1917 he took part in Latgale riflemen regiment organising. IN 1919 finished teacher courses and started working as a teacher in Livenhof parish schools.
Since 1920 Andrejs Švirksts worked in the Daugavpils county board. In 1928 Švirksts took over the post of the chairman of the Daugavpils city board from preceding chairman Janis Volonts and worked there till 1937. Under direction of Švirksts Daugavpils economic and culture life experienced notable growth – the first modern multifunctional building in Baltics Unity House was finished, new bandstand in Stropi forest was built, broadened streets, Daugavpils department of the State history museum was opened. Švirksts contributed to several countryside school building – in Jersika, Sutri, Daugavieši, Piedruja, and Kalnieši.
Švirksts actively participated in Latvian Old Riflemen’s Society, Latvian Red Cross, Daugavpils department of Latvian Children’s Aid Union, Daugavpils department of Health Promotion Society, Daugavpils firemen society and other. He was the chairman of Daugavpils Latvian Society. Švirksts was awarded with the Order of the Three Stars, the Order of Lāčplēsis and the Order of Viesturs.
A. Švirksts was the Chairman of the Action Committee of the Latgale Song Celebration in 1940. These magnificent Latgalian Song Celebrations took place on June 16th, becoming a painful episode for both the Latvian state and the life of Andrejs Švirksts who dedicated his life to Latgale, as the next day Soviet tanks entered the Daugavpils.
On June 14, 1941, A. Švirkts was arrested and deported to Siberia. On November 17, 1941, in Vjatlag, he was sentenced to death, but after one year, on December 16, 1942, the Nation Commissariat of the Interior sentenced Švirksts to 10 years imprisonment. After serving his sentence Švirksts was forbidden to return to Latvia. A. Švirksts died on October 3, 1955, in the Pochinku village of Kstow district of the Gorky region. Buried in exile.
On November 17, 2011, the memorial plaque dedicated to Andrejs Švirksts was unveiled at the facade of the Daugavpils Union House, which was made by sculptor Ivo Folkmanis.
Connection to Daugavpils:
Municipality employee (1928-1934 Chairman of the Daugavpils District Board and 1934 to 1938 district chief, 1938-1940 Daugavpils city head)
Social worker (1938-1940 the head of Daugavpils Latvian Society).