starčević was born in žitnik near gospić, a small town of the military frontiers, in what was then part of austria-hungary. he was the son of a serb orthodox mother and catholic father. in 1845, he graduated from secondary school in zagreb. he started his studies at the seminary (school where people can learn how to become a priest or minister) in senj, but moved to pest in the year of 1845 so he could go to a roman catholic theological (of the study of god or gods) seminary - which he finished in 1848. after passing a number of philosophy and free sciences classes, he earned a honoris causa degree in the year of 1846. starčević quickly returned to croatia and continued studying theology in senj. instead of becoming a priest, he chose to get involved in secular pursuits and started working in the law firm of ladislav šram in zagreb.