edvard beneš (28 may 1884 in kožlany – 3 september 1948 in sezimovo ústí) was the second president of czechoslovakia (1935 - 1938 and 1945 - 1948). during world war ii, he led the government-in-exile in england (1939 - 1945). the next president was klement gottwald, a communist.