About
Born in Moravia, then part of the Austrian Empire, Masaryk became a professor of philosophy in Prague in 1882. He entered politics, serving in the Austrian parliament and founding his own party. He championed controversial causes, such as the authenticity of medieval manuscripts and the innocence of Leopold Hilsner. During World War I, he organized Czechoslovak resistance abroad and secured Allied recognition. In 1918, he became the first president of Czechoslovakia, serving until 1935. He is noted for his humanism and opposition to antisemitism.
* 1850-03-07 — † 1937-09-14
Major works
- Der Selbstmord als sociale Massenerscheinung (1881)sociological study
- The Philosophical and Sociological Foundations of Marxism (1898)philosophical work
- Russland und Europa (1913)historical study
- The New Europe: The Slav Standpoint (1918)political essay
- Světová revoluce (1925)memoir
Key milestones
- 1882Appointed professor of philosophy at Charles-Ferdinand University in Prague.
- 1916Sentenced to death in absentia for high treason by the Austro-Hungarian authorities.
- 1918Becomes the first president of Czechoslovakia.
Themes
DemocracyHumanismNational identityAntisemitismSociology
Sources: encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net · encyclopediaofukraine.com · encyclopedia.com
