Daniel Adam of Veleslavin

Daniel Adam of Veleslavin was a prominent humanist of the second half of the 16th century. He was a writer, philosopher, historian, publisher and university pedagogue. For his contributions, Daniel Adam received an aristocratic crest (a winged horse Pegas as a symbol of spiritual flight, also a helmet enclosed with a pair of wings) and a nickname – Veleslavin (a reference to his father’s birthplace). His activity greatly influenced Czech literature, which is why the period, in which he worked, is called the Veleslavin period.

Daniel Adam was born on August 31st, 1546, in Prague, where he also studied. In 1568 he received a bachelor’s degree only a year later the title of a master at university where he worked as a teacher after his professor Prokop Lupac in the years 1572-1576. And because he came from Prague, he often also signed Adam Prazsky (Adam from Prague).

At the end of the year 1576, he married Anna the oldest daughter of Jiri st. Melantricha z Aventinu. He started working as a printer in his father-in-law’s printshop. Soon he became his father-in-law’s successor. Daniel Adam wanted to be fully available to the printer after the wedding, so he formally ended his teaching career without, however, interrupting the collegian relations with the university. He did not participate in the operation of Melantrich’s workshop only in the role of literary advisor, translator, author and editor. From the archival sources, we know that he also represented an aging and sick father-in-law in a “shadow” capacity. Already two years after the wedding we find two publications with Daniel’s name next to Melantrich’s. On Kalendar historicky (1578) as well the Bible kralicka (1579). However, there is no more information surrounding Daniel’s entry into the book printing trade.

Daniel Adam worked in the city administration, represented the Old Town in the state assemblies, and as a member of several commissions he acted in important religious negotiations at the university. Through careful management, he acquired several houses, vineyards and farms.

In 1595 he moved to the surroundings of Mlada Boleslav, where he lived until 1599. Daniel Adam died on October 18th, 1599, at the age of 53 in Prague. The printer was then run by his wife Anna and her second husband, printer Jan Bohutsky. From the year 1613, her son Samuel Adam, who, like his father, was a supporter of the Unity of Brethren, continued on with printing. After the estate uprising, he went into exile and the printing machine was confiscated by Jesuits.