Erik Schmidt (15 August 1925 on the island of Naissaar, Estonia – 18 April 2014) was a painter and writer. Schmidt's father, August Schmidt, a master mariner, was captain of SS Merisaar, a merchant ship owned by Merilaid & Co.. Erik also hoped to become a sea captain but he was also a talented amateur painter. Schmidt's uncle was a famous optician Bernhard Schmidt mostly known for inventing the Schmidt camera. Schmidt went to school in the next-door Swedish school, and after four years continued his studies at the Swedish College at Haapsalu. His early paintings were noticed by Ants Laikmaa. At the age of 17 he became a teacher of the primary school where he himself had been a pupil. This freed him from the danger of having to "volunteer" for service in either the Estonian Legion or the Ge