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October 14, 2004
Laszlo Ujhazy
I bet you do not know who Laszlo Ujhazy is, do you? I did not either until a few days ago when I learned about him doing research for a school project at the University of the Incarnate Word. Laszlo was the original owner of the property the university is now housed on and the surrounding area which is just north of downtown San Antonio.
Born in 1795, Ujhazy was at one point a member of the Hungarian Parliament and was the governor of Komarom in Hungary. They revolted against the Hapsburgs from 1848-49, but were defeated with the help of the Russians. Ujhazy was exiled after the revolt was crushed and came to America and settled in San Antonio next to Olmos Creek. Once here he kept fighting for freedom and became an abolitionist. He visited the White House several times and Lincoln made him the Consul to Ancona, Italy during the civil war here. In 1868 he was the presiding officer at the Republican Nominating Convention in San Antonio. He died in 1870.
I thought this was a cool life story and it reminds me how this city of over a million people was only farmland a hundred and fifty years ago. It is also good to know that even though Ujhazy died with his dream of a free Hungary unfulfilled, it did come true over a hundred years later. The good guys do win sometimes even if it takes awhile.
I got all this information from a card near the statue of Ujhazy located in the university library near the entrance. The correct way to spell Laszlo Ujhazy is with an accent over each vowel, except the y and I have no idea how to make those symbols with movable type.
Posted by Pete at October 14, 2004 09:31 AM
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