Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (1850–1937) was a Czechoslovak statesman, philosopher, and political activist, best known as the founding father and first president of Czechoslovakia (1918–35.) His leadership shaped the nation’s democratic foundations.
Born in Hodonín, Moravia, he studied philosophy at the University of Vienna, earning a PhD (1876.) He later became a professor at Charles University in Prague, advocating rationalism, democracy, and Czech national identity.
Initially seeking federal reform within Austria-Hungary, Masaryk campaigned for Czech and Slovak independence during World War I, forming the Czechoslovak National Council. His diplomatic efforts led to the Washington Declaration (1918,) securing international recognition.
Notable works include The Spirit of Russia (1913,) examining Russian intellectual history; The Social Question (1898,) critiquing Marxist ideology; and The Making of a State (1927,) detailing Czechoslovakia’s founding. Other publications include Conversations with T. G. Masaryk (1931–35,) written by Karel Čapek, and World Revolution (1925,) reflecting on global political shifts.
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