He was born in 1833 and completed his elementary schooling in Novi Sad, but later went to complete his high school years in Bratislava. He had originally studied law in the various Imperial capitals, but had decided to abandon this stream to dedicate himself more fully to his poetry. He wrote for various poetic and literary magazines, and also for political publications, before returning to University to complete a medical degree in the 1870s. He practiced as a doctor while continuing his literary work. Zmaj helped to further the development of modern Serbian cultural identity. For this, he is commemorated by a statue in a street of his own name in his home city, Novi Sad.