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Matija Mesić (Brod na Savi, February 19, 1826 –Zagreb, December 5, 1878) was aCroatian historian, university professor, the first rector of theUniversity of Zagreb.
He graduatedphilosophy at the Royal Academy of Science in 1844, andtheology at theViennaPázmáneum in 1848. After being ordained and a short chapel service, he worked as a probationary professor of history and geography at thegymnasium in Zagreb. In the period 1851–1853 he studied history and geography in Vienna andPrague. He received a professorship at the Law Academy in Zagreb in 1854, working as a director of the same institution since 1871.
He participated in the work ofCroatian parliament and served as the president ofMatica ilirska. He was a full member of theYugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts since 1867. In 1874 he was selected as a full professor ofCroatian history at theFaculty of Philosophy.
In the academic year 1874/75 he had the honor to be the first rector of the Royal University ofFranz Joseph I in Zagreb. In the opening ceremony, on the October 19th 1874, he held his famous speech in which he warned on the importance of modern university.
In his works he systematically and critically dealt with the period of Croatian history of lateMiddle Ages in the period ofJagiellon dynasty. A street onŠalata in Zagreb bears his name since 1928.
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| Preceded by | President ofMatica hrvatska 1872 – 1874 | Succeeded by |
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| Preceded by Office created | Rector of theUniversity of Zagreb 1874 – 1875 | Succeeded by |
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