Matthias Alexander Castrén (2 December 1813 – 7 May 1852) was a Finnish Swedish ethnologist and philologist who was a pioneer in the study of the Uralic languages.

[3][5] In 1841 he undertook, in company with Finnish philologist Elias Lönnrot, a third journey, which ultimately extended beyond the Urals as far as Obdorsk, and occupied a period of three years.

[1] No sooner had he recovered from the illness which his last journey had occasioned than he set out, under the auspices of the Academy of St Petersburg and the Alexander University, on an exploration among the indigenous peoples of Siberia, which resulted in a vast addition to previous knowledge, but seriously affected the health of the adventurous investigator.

The first fruits of his collections were published at St. Petersburg in 1849 in the form of Versuch einer ostjakischen Sprachlehre, 'Essay on Khanty (Ostyak) grammar' (1858).

The Society creates contacts and fosters dialogue between Finns and other Uralic-speaking peoples and provides assistance for the publication of literature in the Uralic languages.