Sotir Peçi

SotirPeçi

Sotir Peçi
Born July 13, 1873(1873-07-13)
Died 1932 (aged 59)
Florina (Greece)
Nationality Albanian
Occupation teacher, mathematician, politician
Known for Having been the first Minister of Education of Albania

Sotir Peçi (1873-1932) was an Albanian politician, educator and mathematician. In 1906 he published the first Albanian-language newspaper in the United States of America in Boston. In 1908 he participated as a delegate in the Congress of Monastir. In 1920 he was appointed Minister of Education of Albania.

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Early life

Sotir Peçi, the son of wealthy merchant Jovan Peçi, was born in Dardhë, a village near Korçë, on July 13, 1873. His father died while he was a child. Peçi studied at the local school in Korçë. In 1890 at the age of 17 he enrolled at the University of Athens where he studied physical sciences and graduated with a degree in mathematics.[1] While in Athens he published the Albanian dictionary written by Kostandin Kristoforidhi.

Activities in the USA

In 1905 Peçi migrated to the USA, settling in Boston. There he became a member of the Patriotic Brotherhood of Dardha (Albanian: Vëllezëria Patriotike e Dardhës) and published the weekly newspaper The Nation (Albanian: Kombi), the first Albanian-language newspaper in the USA.[1][2][3] In 1906 he employed the literary, religious, and patriotic figure Fan Noli as deputy editor of the newspaper.[4]

Activities in Albania

In 1908 Peçi participated in the Congress of Monastir, an academic conference held in the Macedonian city of Bitola-Manastir from 14 to 22 November 1908, with the goal of standardizing the Albanian alphabet, as a delegate of the Albanian communities living in the United States of America for whom he was granted three votes.[5] After returning to Albania in 1908 he taught at the school of Elbasan.[3]

Sotir Peçi wrote a series of textbooks in physics, mathematics and grammar and was appointed director of education of Korçë.[5] At the national Congress of Lushnjë, where a new national cabinet was elected with Sulejman Delvina as its prime minister, Sotir Peçi was elected Minister of Education.[6] In 1921 he was elected deputy of Korçë. He also became member of Supreme Council of Regency. In 1924 he appointed the bishop of Durrës Fan Noli prime minister of Albania.[3] Sotir Peçi died in Florina in 1932. He was honoured post-humously with the title Teacher of the People (Albanian: Mësues i Popullit). A road and a school in Korçë were renamed after him.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Canadian review of studies in nationalism: Revue canadienne des études sur le nationalisme. 30-32. University of Prince Edward Island. 2003. pp. 46. http://books.google.com/books?id=EzKDAAAAMAAJ&q=Sotir+Peci+athens. 
  2. ^ Tarasar, Constance (1975). Orthodox America, 1794-1976: development of the Orthodox Church in America. Dept. of History and Archives. pp. 309. http://books.google.com/books?id=-ftCAAAAIAAJ&q=sotir+peci. 
  3. ^ a b c Pipa, Arshi (1989). The politics of language in socialist Albania. East European Monographs. 271. University of Michigan. ISBN 0880331682. http://books.google.com/books?id=nkhiAAAAMAAJ. 
  4. ^ Elsie, Robert; Centre for Albanian Studies (2005). Albanian literature: a short history. I.B.Tauris. pp. 109. ISBN 1845110315. http://books.google.com/books?id=ox3Wx1Nl_2MC. 
  5. ^ a b Jacques, Edwin (1995). The Albanians: an ethnic history from prehistoric times to the present. McFarland. pp. 303. ISBN 0899509320. http://books.google.com/books?id=IJ2s9sQ9bGkC. 
  6. ^ Pearson, Owen (2004). Albania and King Zog: independence, republic and monarchy 1908-1939. I. B. Tauris. pp. 139. ISBN 1845110137. http://books.google.com/books?id=3_Sh3y9IMZAC.