Masaryk

The founder and first President of Czechoslovakia, known as the "President-Liberator."

Life

Coachman's son

Masaryk came from a coachman's family in Moravia and became a professor of philosophy at the University of Prague, known for daring to expose forged national historical documents and for defending a wrongly accused Jew.

Campaigning in exile

During World War I he went into exile abroad, campaigning in Britain, Russia, the United States and elsewhere to win Allied support for the independence of the Czechs and Slovaks, and organizing the Czechoslovak Legion. When Czechoslovakia was founded in 1918, he was elected its first President.

President-Liberator

Re-elected three times, he made Czechoslovakia the only country in interwar Central Europe to remain a parliamentary democracy. He resigned in 1935 and died in 1937.

Legacy

Masaryk was the father of Czechoslovakia, and his motto "Truth prevails" became the national motto.

Major works & achievements

• The World Revolution

Did you know? His wife was the American Charlotte Garrigue, and he added her surname to his own name.

Key dates

• 1882Became professor at Prague University
• 1914Went into exile to campaign for independence
• 1918Elected first President
• 1935Resigns
• 1937Died