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Tomas
Masaryk
was
born in Hodonin, Moravia in 1850. The son of a coachman, Masaryk was
educated at Vienna and Leipzig and in 1882 became Professor of Philosophy
at the Czech University in Prague.
Masaryk, a member of the Vienna Parliament in 1891-93 and 1907-14,
advocated the reconciliation of all western and southern Slav groups (Czechs,
Slovaks, Croats and Serbs). After calling for nation states to replace
multinational anachronism of Austria-Hungary he was forced to flee to
Geneva in August 1914.
Masaryk moved to London in 1915 where he started the influential monthly
periodical The New
Europe. In 1917 Masaryk helped form
the Czech Legion that fought on the Eastern Front against the Central
Powers. The following year he went to the United States where he convinced
Woodrow Wilson of the importance of a new state for the Czech people.
After the Versailles Peace Treaty Masaryk became
in 1918
President of Czechoslovakia. Twice re-elected, Masaryk retired in December
1935 and was replaced by his long-time friend, Eduard Benes.
Tomas
Masaryk died in 1937
in castle Lany.
With
his wife Charlotte, married 15. 3. 1878 in USA, had they four
children: Alice (1879), Herbert (1880), Jan (1886) and Olga (1891). |
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