Stambolov
was born on January 31st, 1854, in the town of Veliko Turnovo. His
ancestors originated from the small town of Tryavna. He finished his
secondary education in Veliko Turnovo, and then continued his studies
at the Odessa Seminary (1870-1872), but he did not graduate. His father
was one of the participants in the so-called Velchova Zavera (an
anti-Turkish conspiracy, 1835) and a supporter of the Captain Dyado
Nikola Filipovski (1853), who fought against the Turkish oppression.
Stefan Stambolov himself was an important figure in organizing the
Stara Zagora Uprising (1875) and the April Uprising (1876).
He
stands among the most significant and popular figures who took part in
building up modern Bulgaria. In 1880 he became a Deputy Chairman, and
later Chairman of Bulgarian Parliament. He was a Prime Minister for
quite some time ? from 1888 until 1894. He took part in the Unification
of Principality of Bulgaria with Eastern Roumelia, as well as in the
counter-coup in 1886. His line of politics had always been clearly
national-bound, which assisted the consolidation of Bulgarian
diplomacy, economy and power of state. Being engaged into political
conflicts with Royal Russia and the Bulgarian Knjaz Ferdinand, Stefan
Stambolov was beaten to death by political enemies and died on July
6th, 1895, in Sofia.
Let us remember his words:
?So, I feel
like being the happiest, most complacent and most grateful citizen of
Bulgaria, and as such, I dare to (and believe I have the right to)
share all my patriotic feelings and thoughts with my simple-minded
brothers. In order to fulfill that good and important cause, I have
always been guided by two bright thoughts: 1) to announce to my
fellow-citizens that sacred flame burning inside my chest, which is the
starting point of all humble wisdom and benignity, and also 2) to leave
a legacy collection of most honest and deeply patriotic ideas and
feelings to future generations, which, by reading and studying them,
will get nobler and more elevated in their thoughts. Therefore, having
my fixed belief of doing a good and beneficial deed, I am sitting down
to write my memoir notes, which, I am certain, everyone will read with
necessary reverence, attention and nerve ??