Carl Robert Jakobson was one the most important public figures during the Estonian Period of Awakening as well as a columnist, writer, teacher and founder of the Viljandi County newspaper 'Sakala'. The statue was erected in 1998 to mark the 157th anniversary of Jakobson’s birth. It was sculpted by Mati Karmin.

Jakobson's importance in the history of the Estonian people was reflected in the fact that he was depicted on the Estonian 500-kroon bank note.