KALLAY, BENJAMIN VON (1839-1903), Austro-Hun garian statesman, was born at Budapest on Dec. 22, 1839, of an ancient Magyar family. At an early age Kallay manifested a deep interest in politics, and especially in the Eastern Question. He travelled in Russia, European Turkey and Asia Minor, gaining a thorough knowledge of Greek, Turkish and several Slavonic languages. He became as proficient in Serbian as in his native tongue. In 1867 he entered the Hungarian diet and in 1869 was appointed consul-general at Belgrade. Leaving Belgrade in 1875 he resumed his seat in the diet, and shortly afterwards founded the journal Kelet Nepe (Eastern Folk) in which he defended An drassy's policy, which he had himself largely inspired. In 1878 he went to Philippopolis as Austro-Hungarian envoy extraordinary on the International Eastern Rumelian Commission. In 1879 he became second, and soon afterwards first, departmental chief at the foreign office in Vienna. In 1882 he was appointed Imperial
minister of finance and administrator of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a post which he filled for 21 years. He governed on the whole with administrative ability and political skill. He did much for the economic development of the provinces. Politically he began by an attempt to create a special Bosnian nationality and language and to win the Muslim population for this idea. He was driven however, into gradually increasing opposition to the Ortho dox Sects, which resulted in a slow rapprochement with the Croats. 1‹.5.llay died on July 13, 1903. He was an author of talent, translated J. S. Mill, and other writings into Magyar and wrote two valuable writings which have been translated into Ger man (Geschichte der Serben and Die Orientpolitik Russlands).