Gergely Berzeviczy

* Kakaslomnic, 15 June 1763 – † Kakaslomnic, 23 February 1822 / lawyer, economist, researcher of the Tatra Mountains ; ; In 1783 he obtained a law degree from the Lutheran Gymnasium in Keszthely, and then in 1784–1786 he was a student at the University of Göttingen. He traveled to Germany, France, Flanders and England, and his experiences there gave rise to many reform ideas. Upon his return home, he was given an internship at the Council of the Governors. In the 1790s, he came into contact with some prominent figures of the Jacobin movement: Ferenc Verseghy, József Hajnóczy, László Orczy, Ferenc Szentmarjay and Ferenc Kazinczy. When Ignác Martinovics and his companions were executed or sentenced to prison, he withdrew to his estate in Kakaslomnice, fearing reprisals, and devoted himself to scientific activities and the management of his economy. His outlook was influenced by the economic views of the Scottish economist and philosopher Adam Smith (1723–1790). He was among the first to recognize in Hungary that economic development was largely hindered by feudal relations. He also attributed an important role to trade, and believed that this could only be achieved effectively by an independent country. Although he wrote his works in Latin and German, he can still be considered the founder of Hungarian economics. In addition to economic problems, he also researched the Tatra Mountains. He traveled the region with several distinguished travelers and scientists (including Tamás Mauksch, János Asbóth, Pál Kitaibel, Robert Townson54). Many of his writings were published in various collections and journals, but many remained in manuscript form. The description of Old Tatra Baths was published by his grandson, Egyed Berzeviczy (Kakaslomnic, December 24, 1835 – Barca, June 14, 1906), historian of the Berzeviczy family, member of parliament (Eine Beschreibung des Bades Schmecks aus dem Jahre 1812). ; ; His main works: ; De commercio et industria Hungariae, 1779, ; De conditione et indole rusticorum in Hungaria (On the condition and nature of the peasants in Hungary), 1809, ; Notizen über das Zipser Komitat in Ungarn Vaterländer Blätter, 1810, ; Oeconomica Publico Politica etc., 1818 (published only decades after his death, in 1902).