KOLLÁR, Ján (Czech Jan K.). Mosóc (now Mošovce) 29.7.1793 — Vienna 24.1.1852. Slovakian Philologist, Poet and Translator. Son of the local mayor Matej Kollár and Katarina Frndová. After gymnasium in Pressburg (Bratislava) worked as teacher. In 1817-19 studied Lutheran theology at Jena. From 1819 priest in Slovakian church in Pest. In 1849-52 Professor of Slavic Antiquities at Vienna. Married 1835 Wilhelmine (Mina) Friederike Schmidt (1795–1871).
From student time on Kollár was eager Panslavic nationalist. He believed in united Czechoslovakian nation and therefore wrote in Czech rejecting others’ attempt to create a Slovakian literary language.
Publications: Translated Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic poetry.
– Own poetry; writings on Slavic; books on his travels in Germany, Italy and Switzerland.
Sources: Kdo Byl Kdo: Čeští a slovenští orientalisté, afrikanisté a iberoamerikanisté, referring to *Slovenský biografický slovník 3, 1989, 145f.; Wytrzens, Ö.B.L. 4, 1969, 85; Wikipedia with portrait (more in German version).
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