Milan Rastislav Štefánik was a Slovak politician, diplomat, and military leader born on July 21, 1880, in Austria-Hungary. He played a significant role in the establishment of Czechoslovakia after World War I and served as the Minister of War. Štefánik was also an accomplished aviator and made notable contributions to aviation during his lifetime. In addition to his political and military achievements, Štefánik was a skilled astronomer and worked at the Paris-Meudon Observatory. He tragically died in a plane crash on April 4, 1919, near Dole, France, but remains a celebrated figure in Slovak history for his contributions to the nation.