Luigj Gurakuqi was born on February 20, 1879. He was an activist of the national issue, drafter and signatory of the Declaration of Independence of Albania, poet, educator, linguist, diplomat, deputy and Hero of the Albanian People. He wrote the Declaration of Independence of Albania. His hand wrote the alphabet approved by the Monastery Congress.

Luigj Gurakuqi graduated from the College of Saint Adrian in the Arbëresh village of Saint Mitri in Italy and studied medicine and biology at the University of Naples. He has a rich literary, journalistic, national and political activity.

His activity began with lyric poetry and translations in the Albanian language. It continued with the publication of primer texts in the two dialects of Albanian language. He wrote articles in the Albanian press. In 1908, he participated as vice-chairman of the commission for the unification of the alphabet in the Congress of Manastir. He is the first drafter of the work “Albanian Metrics”.

In 1911, he was one of the drafters of the Memorandum of Greece during the Mbishkodra highlanders’ uprising of 1911. In 1912, he participated in the Bucharest meeting. He was in the Assembly of Vlora for the Declaration of Independence and was appointed Minister of Education by Ismail Qemali.

In 1916, he was appointed General Director of Education and member of the Literary Committee in Shkodër. In 1918 he participated in the Congress of Durrës and was elected Minister of Education and member of the Albanian delegation to the Peace Conference in Paris. In the years 1921-1924, he was a deputy in the National Council.

 Gurakuqi was involved in the June Movement of 1924 and was elected Minister of Finance in Fan Noli’s government.

Gurakuqi was a deep connoisseur of the cultural heritage of his people and of the classical Roman and Latin culture. The history of the country and the world were permanent objects of his studies. He knew archeology and economic and financial sciences, national and European pedagogical educational heritage. Gurakuqi was a polyglot. In addition to Albanian, he spoke Latin, Italian, Turkish and French, Greek and German, probably also English and had a strange memory.

He is among the main drafters of the educational and cultural program of the national movement for autonomy, freedom and independence. In this context, he was the best connoisseur and propagandist of the traditions of our people, of the cultural and patriotic traditions, of the oral and written tradition and of the psychology of the Albanian people.

As a creator, Gurakuqi had excellent relations with the country’s intellectual elite. Gurakuqi dedicated some of his works and creations to Gjergj Fishta, Prenk Doçi, Hilë Mosi and Mati Logoreci. But many dedications and devotions are addressed to Gurakuqi by Filip Shiroka, Hilë Mosi continues to call him a nightingale in the song he dedicates to him, “The nightengale is not singing”. He was killed on March 2, 1925 in Bari, Italy.

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