František Mareš

František Mareš
František Mareš, ca. 1912
Member of the Senate
In office 1920–1925
Personal details
Born	(1857-10-20)October 20, 1857 Hrdějovice
Died	February 6, 1942(1942-02-06) (aged 84) Hluboká nad Vltavou
Political party	National Democratic Party
Occupation	professor, politician

František Mareš (October 20, 1857 – February 6, 1942) was a Czechoslovak professor of physiology and philosophy, and nationalist politician. He was rector of the Charles University in 1920-21, and member of the National Democrats.

Life

Mareš was born in Opatovice and died in České Budějovice (tomb - Hluboká nad Vltavou). He studied philosophy and medicine in Prague (postgraduate in Vienna). He promoted in 1886. He became a professor in 1890. He became a chairman of the Physiology Institute of the Charkes University in 1895, continuing in that capacity until 1928. In 1914 and 1920, he was appointed rector of the Charles University for one year. He was many times appointed dean of Faculty of Medicine. Honorary doctorate Mayo clinic.

During the war and after the independence of Czechoslovakia from Austria-Hungary in 1918, Mareš became active in the Czechoslovak nationalist movement. He was an active member of the National Democrats, and became a member of the Revolutionary National Assembly of Czechoslovakia in 1918. In 1920, he was elected to the Senate, until the next election of 1925. At that time he became influenced by fascism, much to the dismay of the National Democratic leadership. In 1934, he was part of the leadership of the National Front (Národní fronta), later National Unity (Národní sjednocení). He was also a contributor to Vlajka.

Work

Mareš published his research papers mainly in German and French journals. The papers were oriented on metabolismus, neurophysiology and winter dormancy in rodents. For medical students he prepared great textbooks Všeobecná fysiologie and Fysiologie I-IV. His philosophy was briefly based upon the Vitalism of Henri Bergson and Hans Driesch. He was a critic of positivism - book (1903) Idealism and Realism in Natural Sciences. He also defended the Rukopis královédvorský, which were later exposed as forgeries by scientific dating methods.