history
THE FATHER OF NIKOLA TESLA SPOKE 18 LANGUAGES: It became known how much influence he had on the scientist only after his death
Milutin Tesla, Nikola Tesla's father, was a priest, polyglot, and educator whose influence on his son only became clear ten years after his death.
TL;DR
- Milutin Tesla (1819–1879) was a priest of the Serbian Orthodox Church, poet, polyglot, and educator.
- Nikola Tesla stated his father was a linguist who spoke eighteen languages and was an exceptional mathematician.
- Milutin served as a priest in Smiljani and later Gospić, impacting his local community and fostering respect for other religions.
- He married Georgina (Đuka) Mandić and shared a love for poetry and philosophy.
- Milutin's dedication to his people was evident in his statement, "Nothing is more valuable to me than the freedom, well-being, and progress of my people and brothers. For the church and the people, I am ready to give my life."
- He was awarded the Golden Cross of Merit of the First Class by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria in 1873.
- Milutin's modesty meant he often did not charge for his services, prioritizing his parishioners' honest living.
- Nikola described his father as "a very learned man, natural philosopher, poet, and writer" whose sermons were profound.
- Milutin wrote articles on education, health, and life in Lika for "Srbski dnevnik" and used the pseudonym Rodoljub Pravičić for Croatian newspapers.
- Nikola Tesla, in his adulthood, returned to his hometown ten years after his father's death to erect a monument, acknowledging Milutin's bravery and contribution to his upbringing.