Lajos Kossuth

Lajos Kossuth (1802-1894) was a Hungarian politician who led Hungary's struggle for independence from the Austrian Empire, and served as Governor-President of Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution from 1848-49. After the revolution was quashed by the Austrians and Russians, he was removed from power and left Hungary, though he continued attempting to rally people in support of Hungarian independence. He became famous throughout Europe and the US as an icon of democracy and other liberal values such as freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Today he is considered the father of democracy in Hungary.