 Following Finland's declaration of its independence in 1917 and the Finnish Civil War in 1918, the German general Rüdiger von der Goltz lived in Kesäranta briefly.Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim also used Kesäranta as an occasional residence during his term as Regent, or "Protector of State", from 1918 to 1919.Since 1919, Kesäranta has served as the Prime Minister's official residence.