A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve: Studia Historica 7. (Szeged, 2004)

RESCH Béla – MARJANUCZ László: A magyar tudomány mecénása. Marczibányi István élete

BÉLA RESCH - LÁSZLÓ MARJANUCZ: MAECENAS OF HUNGARIAN SCIENCE (ISTVÁN MARCZIBÁNYI'

S LIFE) István Marczibányi was an outstanding patron of the modern Hungarian world of science. He was born in Makó, living most of his life as a landlord in Csanád county. His studies at the faculty of law enabled him to take on significant duties at distinctive county offices. His rational planning provided him secure financial subsistence. The monarch rewarded his highly responsible public role by different titles, while his promoting the Hungarian national cause won the respect of the estates and the gratitude of the Hungarian society. He moved from Makó to Pest around 1800 in order to have his increasing illness treated. The income of his estates provided him not only a secure living, but also supported financially the advancement of public welfare. Due to his generous donations, hospitals, buildings and houses sheltering the poor were founded. Besides he set up whole range of foundations one after the other supporting the needy. However, his name became well known due to the Marczibányi-Foundation supporting Hungarian cultural life. The fund set up from his donation, may be considered as the forerunner of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. It functioned until 1944. Its revenues sponsored the most prominent representatives of Hungarian science and cultural life, such as Mihály Vörösmarty, István Széchenyi, Sándor Petőfi and János Arany. We respect István Marczibányi as a generous patron promoting national education, nonetheless, we may claim the same about the whole Marczibányi family. Since several members of the family sponsored through local foundations and donations the rise of the Hungarian nation, as well as the embourgeoisement of the society.