Setälä was born in 1864.
In 1892 he married the writer and editor, Helmi Krohn, and she took the name Setälä which she used until they divorced in 1913.
A divorce was unusual at this time in Finland.

Architect and writer Salme Setälä was their daughter.

His political activities led him to be elected several times to the parliament, for the Young Finnish Party and for the National Coalition Party.
For a brief period at the end of World War I, he served as acting head of state as the Chairman of the Senate.
Later Setälä held cabinet posts as of the minister of education (1925) and the Foreign Minister (1925-1926).

He was the Envoy of Finland to Denmark and Hungary from 1927 to 1930.

From 1926 to 1935 he was Chancellor of the University of Turku.
 
He is buried in the Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki.
Setälä was born in 1864. In 1892 he married the writer and editor, Helmi Krohn, and she took the name Setälä which she used until they divorced in 1913. A divorce was unusual at this time in Finland.
Architect and writer Salme Setälä was their daughter.
His political activities led him to be elected several times to the parliament, for the Young Finnish Party and for the National Coalition Party. For a brief period at the end of World War I, he served as acting head of state as the Chairman of the Senate. Later Setälä held cabinet posts as of the minister of education (1925) and the Foreign Minister (1925-1926). 
He was the Envoy of Finland to Denmark and Hungary from 1927 to 1930.
From 1926 to 1935 he was Chancellor of the University of Turku.  
He is buried in the Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki.
Eemil Nestor Setälä