Nationality Croat | Alma mater University of Zagreb | |
Born 8 September 1858
Praputnjak, Austrian Empire
(now Croatia) ( 1858-09-08 ) Known for Charitably, scientific and political work Died 9 May 1939, Zagreb, Croatia | ||
Josip Šilović (Praputnjak near Bakar, September 8, 1858 - Zagreb, May, 9 1939) was a Croatian jurist and university professor who served as a rector of the University of Zagreb, member of the Croatian Parliament and first ban of the Sava Banovina.
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Early life and education
Josip Šilović had a difficult childhood. He was a child of an emigrant forest worker who died at work leaving a widow with four children. Šilović's life in poverty during his childhood was associated with his exceptional humanitarian work later in life. After graduating in law and rehabilitation, he acquired a doctorate in law in 1884 on the Orthodox Christianity and Administrative Sciences Faculty.
Career
After working in judiciary and administration from 1883 until 1894, he started to work as a full-time professor of civil law and civil procedure (1894-1897), criminal law, criminal procedure and philosophy of law (1894-1924) at the Faculty of Law of the University of Zagreb. In academic year 1898/1899 he served as rector of the University. He is a founder of modern Croatian teaching of criminal law. Šilović was fluent in five languages. He was good in shorthand. Šilović was an MP for the People's Party in the Croatian Parliament. In addition, he served as Ban of Sava Banovina from 1929 to 1931.
Charity work
In addition to his regular job at the University, Šimović was intensively conducting charitable activities. He was a longtime president of humanitarian organisation "National Defense-Union of Charities" and one of the editors of the publication "National Defense". He was often called "father of Croatian social policies, especially child protection" and "promoter of charity and humanitarian actions".
During the First World War Šimović served as Director of the "Office for helping victims of war". His credits include saving a large number of starving children and young people from Istria, Bosnia and southern parts of Croatia.