= Tomáš Masaryk = '''Tomáš Masaryk''' was a politician in the late [[Austria/Monarchs#Austro-Hungarian_Empire|Austro-Hungarian Empire]], a founding figure in the [[Czechia/Democratization#First_Czechoslovak_Republic|First Czechoslovak Republic]], and the first [[Czechia/Presidents|president]] of Czechoslovakia. <> ---- == History == Masaryk was born in [[Czechia/Monarchs#Margraviate_of_Moravia|Moravia]]. He received a Ph.D. from the University of [[Austria/Vienna|Vienna]] in 1876. Between political offices, he became a professor at Charles University in [[Czechia/Prague|Prague]] and lectured at the University of [[UnitedStates/Chicago|Chicago]] intermittently. He entered politics as a deputy in the [[Austria/Democratization#February_Patent|reichsrat]]. Originally a [[Czechia/YoungCzechParty|Young Czech]], he broke with the party during the '''Hilsner Trial'''. He founded the [[Czechia/CzechRealistParty|Realists]] on more progressive ideals. After [[WorldHistory/WorldWar1|World War 1]] began, Masaryk fled [[Austria/Monarchs#Austro-Hungarian_Empire|Austria-Hungary]]. He was a founding staff member of the School of Slavonic and East European Studies and became a professor at King's College [[UnitedKingdom/London|London]]. ---- == Policies == Masaryk was involved in the organization of a Czechoslovak Legion within the Russian Army. This stalled until the [[Russia/Democratization#February_Revolution|February Revolution]]. When the [[Russia/Democratization#October_Revolution|Bolsheviks]] entered peace negotiations with the Central Powers, Masaryk worked to transfer the legion to France. He also coordinated an intelligence network of Czech revolutionaries. Masaryk was treated as an acting head of state by the [[WorldHistory/WorldWar1|Allied Powers]], and did win the first elections in November 1918 to become the first [[Czechia/Presidents|president]]. He centralized political power informally; the presidency held few real powers but the parliament was too disorganized to effectively govern. ---- == Legacy == Masaryk retired from politics in 1935. [[Czechia/EdvardBenes|Beneš]] succeeded him as [[Czechia/Presidents|president]]. He died two years later. ---- CategoryRicottone