Grinius was born in Selima, near Marajampole, Lithuania, during the time when Lithuania was part of the Russian empire. As a young man he became involved in the Lithuanian nationalist and liberal movement and was persecuted by the Russians. When Lithuania became independent from Russia in 1918, Grinius became a member of the National Assembaly as a member of the Peasant Populist Party. He served as Prime Minister from 1920 until 1922, and signed a treaty with the Soviet Union. He was elected President in 1926, but served only 6 months as he was deposed by the founder of the Lithuanian republic, Antanas Smetona, in a coup, ostensibly because Smetona believed there was a communist plot to take over Lithuania. When Germany invaded Lithuania in 1940, Grinius refused to collaborate with the Germans because of his opposition to the deportation of Jews and the occupation of Lithuania by any foreign ruler. He fled to Germany when the Soviets took over Lithuania in 1944 and immigrated to the United States in 1947. He died in Chicago.
GRINIUSKazys (1866-1950), third Presiden of the Republic of Lithuania, born in Salema, county of Marijampole, on Dec. 17, 1866.
Grinius was an important member of a group of national liberals known as varpininkai, who consisted of contributors, editors, patrons and subscribers of the monthly Varpas (The Bell, 1889-1905).
PresidentGrinius was compelled to resign, and an era of authoritarian government was inaugurated in Lithuania.
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