František Mareš

Infobox_Politician
name = František Mareš


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birth_date = birth date|1857|10|20|mf=y
birth_place = Hrdějovice
residence =
death_date = death date and age|1942|2|6|1857|10|20|mf=y
death_place = Hluboká nad Vltavou
office = Member of the Senate
term_start = 1920
term_end = 1925
successor =
constituency =
party = National Democratic Party
religion =
occupation = professor, politician
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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 was elected to the Czechoslovak Chamber of Deputies in 1918. In 1920, he became of member of 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.