Josip Šilović (8 September 1858 – 9 May 1939) was a Croatian jurist and university professor who served as a rector of the University of Zagreb, member of the Croatian Parliament, senator in the Parliament of Yugoslavia and first Ban of the Sava Banovina.

Josip Šilović was born 8 September 1858 in a small village of Praputnjak near Bakar to an emigrant forest worker who died at work leaving a widow with four children.

[1][2] In addition to his regular job at the University, Šimović was intensively conducting charitable activities.

He was often called "father of Croatian social policies, especially child protection" and "promoter of charity and humanitarian actions".

His credits include saving a large number of starving children and young people from Istria, Bosnia and Dalmatia.