Mykolas Sleževičius
| Mykolas Sleževičius | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Prime Minister of Lithuania | |
|
In office 26 December 1918 – 12 March 1919 |
|
| Preceded by | Augustinas Voldemaras |
| Succeeded by | Pranas Dovydaitis |
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In office 12 April 1919 – 7 October 1919 |
|
| Preceded by | Pranas Dovydaitis |
| Succeeded by | Ernestas Galvanauskas |
|
In office 15 June 1926 – 17 December 1926 |
|
| Preceded by | Leonas Bistras |
| Succeeded by | Augustinas Voldemaras |
| Minister of Justice | |
|
In office 15 June 1926 – 17 December 1926 |
|
| Prime Minister | Himself |
| Preceded by | Vincas Karoblis |
| Succeeded by | Petras Karvelis |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
21 February 1882 Drembliai village, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire (now Lithuania) |
| Died | 11 November 1939 (aged 57) Kaunas, Lithuania |
| Resting place | Petrašiūnai Cemetery |
| Political party |
Lithuanian Democratic Party Lithuanian Popular Socialist Democratic Party Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union |
| Spouse(s) | Domicėlė Sleževičienė |
| Children | Marytė Sleževičiūtė |
| Alma mater | Odessa University |
Mykolas Sleževičius (21 February 1882 – 11 November 1939) was a Lithuanian lawyer, political and cultural figure, and journalist. One of the most influential figures in inter-war Lithuania, he served as the prime minister of Lithuania on three occasions. Taking helm of the government at a difficult time in 1918 and again in 1919, Sleževičius has been credited with preparing Lithuania for the fights to come and for laying the foundations of the fledging state.
Sleževičius was elected to the Lithuanian parliament, initially the Constituent Assembly, later the Seimas, on four occasions. In 1926, as a representative of the Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union, Sleževičius became the prime minister for a third time. His government introduced important changes aimed at normalizing the situation in Lithuania, but the reforms faced resistance from the catholic clergy, military officers and the parliamentary opposition. The resistance culminated in a military coup d'état in December 1926, which brought to power the authoritarian rule of Antanas Smetona. Sleževičius continued participating in the activities of his party but never again regained his previous influence.
Mykolas Sleževičius was born on 21 February 1882 in Drembliai village in Kovno Governorate of the Russian Empire (now part of Raseiniai district municipality, Lithuania). He was the oldest of two brothers, with Kazimieras Sleževičius, who would grow up to become a geophysicist, born in 1890. That same year, their father, Feliksas Sleževičius died.
Despite the early death of his father, and with the support from his aunt and uncle, Mykolas Sleževičius left for studies in Jelgava (then known as Mitau), graduating from the Jelgava Gymnasium in 1901. After failing to get accepted to the Riga Polytechnicum (now Riga Technical University), he started studying law at the Odessa University in 1902.
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Wikipedia