Jan Arnošt Smoler

Jan Arnošt Smoler (German: Johann Ernst Schmaler; born 3 March 1816, Merzdorf, Boxberg, Saxony – died 13 June 1884, Bautzen) was a Sorbian philologist and writer.

Although only German was taught there, Smoler acquired extensive knowledge of his native Sorbian language in private circles during his high school years.

In recognition of his services to the Wendish language, the Wendische Predigergesellschaft zu Leipzig awarded him honorary membership in 1839.

At the same time, in the context of the 1848 Revolution, he was also politically committed to the cultural rights of the Sorbian people in the German military.

In addition, between 1852 and 1856 he published the yearbooks for Slavic literature, art, and science, which, not least of all, also achieved a high reputation among linguists abroad.

Between 1859 and 1883 Smoler made several trips to Russia, among other things to raise donations for the financing of his national cultural projects and the Serbski dom, the society house of Maćica Serbska.