Eötvös, József

Born Sept. 3, 1813, in Buda; died Feb. 2, 1871, in Pest. Hungarian writer and political figure. Baron. Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (1839).

In his novels Eötvös exposed the social inequality and injustice of feudal-serf relations. He belonged to the progressive circles of the nobility and held moderately liberal views. Eötvös believed Hungarian society could be changed through reforms and education.

From April to September 1848, during the Revolution of 1848–49, Eotvos was minister of education in the government of Batthyány. He opposed the overthrow of the Hapsburgs and in the autumn of 1848 emigrated to Munich. He returned to Hungary in 1851. In 1867 he joined Deák’s Party. In the same year Eötvös received his former post of minister of education in the government headed by Andrássy. He was the author of such novels of social criticism as The Village Notary (1845) and Hungary in 1514 (1847).