Rastislav Stefanik Miroslav (21. 7. 1880 - 4. 5. 1919) - Slovak politician, astronomer and professional soldier. One of the founders of the first Czechoslovak Republic. Organizer foreign Czech-Slovak Legion.

MR Stefanik was born in a large family Protestant pastor Paul Stefanik settlement KOSARISKA (today Brezov� pod Bradlom, about ten miles from Myjava). He studied at the Evangelical Lyceum in Bratislava, the former Pressburg, then in secondary schools in the Hungarian city of Sopron and Sarvas, where he graduated with honors. Another important point in �tef�nikova life became Praha. There first began studying civil engineering. But did not finish school, and in 1900 he joined the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague, where he studied astronomy. In Prague, not just studying but also stepped into the social and political life, among other things, he became secretary of the association Detvan, where he was an important Slovak politician Vavro �rob�r. Stefanik even took part in publishing his magazine The Voice (more precisely Annex Artistic voice). In 1904 he defended his dissertation A new star in the constellation Cassiopeia discovered in 1572 and became a doctor of philosophy. Soon after graduation went to Paris to continue his studies of astronomy. Although the beginnings were not easy in Paris, soon noticed him famous French astrophysicist Jules Janssen. As a guest at his observatory in Meudon undertook several expeditions for the purpose of astronomical observations. He himself further expeditions organized. On his travels he visited North Africa, Asian countries and ten months even stayed on Tahiti, where he planned to settle down. As a French citizen received for his merits Cross of Knight of the Legion of Honour.

World War II, the outbreak were anticipating, participated as a pilot in the survey. While trying to build a Czech-Slovak volunteer units whose existence should contribute to postwar independence of both nations. Supported the creation of the Czechoslovak National Council (1916), which represented a foreign organized resistance. (Chairman of the TG Masaryk, the Secretary General of Edvard Benes, Stefanik became vice-chairman). MR Stefanik contributed significantly to building a Czech-Slovak army in France. Volunteers collected throughout Europe and the USA. Restless life, rich in dramatic events, he signed on �tef�nikova health. Due to problems with the stomach several times ended in a sanatorium.

�tef�nik�v life ended prematurely at the age of forty years in a plane crash while returning from Italy. His plane crashed near the village of Ivanka pri Danube. Along with him were killed two Italian pilots and mechanics. Due to the fact that Stefanik had become minister of war in the Czechoslovak government, there have been theories about the assassination. The actual cause of the accident is still not fully understood.