Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (1850-1937) Ever since its foundation,
Masaryk University has been closely linked with the name of
Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, whose person, democratic and ethical
principles, and important contributions to politics, philosophy
and sociology are still held in high regard by the Czech nation.
One of the most important figures in Czech history, the
statesman, politician, philosopher and sociologist Tomáš
Garrigue Masaryk was born in Hodonín, a small town in southern
Moravia, on 7 March 1850. His father, a Slovak from the
Hungarian part of Austria-Hungary, served on one of the imperial
estates; his mother, Terezie Masaryková (née Kropáčková), came
from the German-speaking town of Hustopeče. Studies at the
primary school proved Masaryk's talent and intelligence, which
finally enabled him to study at the German grammar school in
Brno. It was at this time that Masaryk, besides acquiring a deep
theoretical knowledge (gained largely through the study of
literature), found himself confronted with pr