Petras Vileišis

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For other people with the surname of Vileišis, see Vileišis

Petras Vileišis (1851 January 25 in Mediniai-1926 August 12 in Palanga) was prominent Lithuanian entrepreneur and politician, one of four Lithuanian Vileišis Brothers.

From 1861 Petras Vileišis studied in Panevežys. In 1870 finished Šiauliai Gymnasium with Golden Medal. In 1874 he finished St. Petersburg University's, physics and mathematics department. During his studies in St. Petersburg he illegally distribute Lithuanian press, as at that time was imposed ban on Lithuanian language press. He together with his brothers Jonas and Antanas was a member of underground "Twelve Apostles" organization.

Working as engineer he accumulated great fortune, which dedicated and to Lithuanian social needs. Petras Vileišis founded first legal Lithuanian-language daily newspaper Vilniaus žinios in Vilnius. He was the mecenate of the First Lithuanian Art Exhibition, which took place at his house back in 1907.

Petras Vileišis died on his vacation in Palanga in 1926 and was buried in Kaunas. However he was reburied in Vilnius Rasos Cemetery back in 1935.

[edit] References

• (Lithuanian) Biography at Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore website
• (Lithuanian) Nakas, Algimantas (2000). "Petras Vileišis - žymus geležinkelių ir tiltų inžinierius". Mokslas ir Gyvenimas (12). 
• (Lithuanian) Aničas, Jonas (2000). "Petras Vileišis - Lietuvių tautos švietėjas". Žiemgala 2.