48 Facts About Antanas Smetona

Antanas Smetona served as the first president of Lithuania from 1919 to 1920 and later as the authoritarian head of state from 1926 until the Soviet occupation of Lithuania in 1940.

Antanas Smetona attended Palanga Progymnasium and later graduated from Jelgava Gymnasium.

Antanas Smetona pursued higher education at the Saint Petersburg Imperial University, where he studied law and became involved in nationalist and cultural movements.

Antanas Smetona's legacy remains a topic of debate among historians.

Researcher Kazimieras Gasparavicius has traced Antanas Smetona's patrilineal ancestry to Laurentijus who was born around 1695 and lived near Raguva.

Antanas Smetona's parents were hardworking people who managed to double their inherited 5 hectares.

Antanas Smetona's father was literate and Smetona learned to read at home.

Antanas Smetona's mother hoped that Smetona would become a priest.

Antanas Smetona was refused and instead applied to the Palanga Progymnasium, which had no age restrictions.

Antanas Smetona was an exemplary student and received a tuition waiver.

Antanas Smetona began reading Lithuanian periodicals and books, including a history of Lithuania by Maironis.

In particular, Lithuanian language and culture was openly promoted by the linguist, Jonas Jablonskis, teacher of Greek, with whom Antanas Smetona developed a close professional relationship.

Antanas Smetona met his future wife, Sofija Chodakauskaite, through Jablonskis who recommended him as tutor for her brother.

Antanas Smetona did not return to Jelgava and finished up at Gymnasium No 9 in Saint Petersburg.

Antanas Smetona was more interested in history and languages, but knew that as a Catholic his choices were limited to priest, lawyer, or doctor if he wanted to work in Lithuania.

Antanas Smetona joined a Lithuanian choir led by Ceslovas Sasnauskas, organist at the Church of St Catherine.

Antanas Smetona was exposed to socialist ideas and even read Marx's Capital, but resolutely rejected them.

Antanas Smetona was expelled from the university, imprisoned for two weeks, and deported to Vilnius for participating in the February 1899 student protests.

Antanas Smetona was assisted by Avizonis, Zemaite, and Smetona, though Smetona mostly edited works of Bishop Motiejus Valancius.

Antanas Smetona was imprisoned in Vyborg Castle, but managed to secure acquittal and graduate that spring.

Antanas Smetona became an active participant in Lithuanian cultural life and, up until becoming president in December 1926, devoted substantial amounts of time and effort to the Lithuanian press.

From his very first days in Vilnius, Antanas Smetona became involved in the activities of various Lithuanian nationalist groups, and joined the Lithuanian Democratic Party, which he represented in the Great Seimas of Vilnius.

Antanas Smetona was one of the incorporators of the Ausra company for the publishing of Lithuanian books, a member of the Lithuanian Mutual Aid Society of Vilnius, the Lithuanian Learned Society, the Vilniaus ausra, and Rytas education societies, the Ruta Art Society and many other societies, and taught the Lithuanian language at Vilnius schools.

On 16 February 1918, Antanas Smetona signed the Act of Independence of Lithuania.

Antanas Smetona lectured on ethics, ancient philosophy and Lithuanian linguistics.

Antanas Smetona participated in the activity of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union that had staged the Klaipeda Revolt, which gave him greater name-recognition.

Antanas Smetona was known for his tolerant stance towards Jews and his radical opponents nicknamed him as "Jewish King".

Antanas Smetona was a leader of the 1926 coup d'etat that deposed President Kazys Grinius.

Antanas Smetona was re-elected president in 1931 and 1938, both times as the sole candidate.

Antanas Smetona's constitution vested the president with both executive and legislative powers when the Seimas was not in session.

The Seimas was not reconvened until the 1936 Lithuanian parliamentary election; for the next decade, Antanas Smetona ruled by decree, without a parliament, which made his regime on paper one of the most arbitrary in the world.

Antanas Smetona's regime was the first in Europe to put Nazis on trial: as early as 8 February 1934, action was taken against Nazis in the Memel region, which was autonomous within Lithuania.

Antanas Smetona's government was cautious about industrialisation, as its support base lay in the dominant rural population.

In contrast, Antanas Smetona was more generous in support for the agricultural sector, which then provided almost all of Lithuania's exports despite occasionally protests against the regime.

Antanas Smetona was accompanied by his wife, his son and daughter and their spouses and children, Kazys Musteikis, former minister of defense, and two presidential adjutants.

Antanas Smetona decided to cross the border without delay, but Lithuanian border guards would not allow him to pass.

The request was granted, but only on condition that while Antanas Smetona was in the US, he would not be considered the leader or representative of any state or government.

In Bern, Antanas Smetona met with members of the Lithuanian Diplomatic Service, ambassadors and diplomats who continued to represent pre-occupation Lithuania.

Antanas Smetona saw no need for such a committee and criticized the choice of Galvanauskas.

Antanas Smetona stayed in Monte Estoril at the Pensao Zenith.

Antanas Smetona was met by local officials and Lithuanian emigrants, and had a meeting with Getulio Vargas, the president of Brazil.

Antanas Smetona was greeted by about 30 American journalists and photographers as well as Lithuanian-American representatives.

Since Antanas Smetona was a private individual in the United States, the gathering did not include any members of US organizations.

Antanas Smetona then lived in Pittsburgh and Chicago before settling in Cleveland in May 1942 with his son's family.

Sofija opened the door and she and Antanas Smetona began descending the stairs.

Antanas Smetona was found lying on the kitchen floor on the second floor of Julius' flat.

Some believe that due to Antanas Smetona's continued political activities, the fire was started by the Russian Intelligence Service.

In 1975, Antanas Smetona's remains were moved from Cleveland's Knollwood Cemetery mausoleum to a crypt next to his wife Sofija in All Souls Cemetery in Chardon, Ohio.