Pasich
NICOLA, Serbian statesman; born in Saitehar, 1846; educated in Belgrade, and studied at the University of Engineering in Zurich, Switzerland. Fought with his countrymen against the Turks in 1876-1878, then entered politics, becoming leader of the Radical party in the Popular Assembly.
Being suspected of plotting against King Milan, he was exiled abroad in 1883, but was pardoned in 1889, when he returned to Belgrade. Re-entering politics, he was elected Mayor of Belgrade. In 1891 he was called upon to form a Cabinet, and for a year was Premier. In 1893- 1894 he was Serbian ambassador to Russia. In 1899 he again became implicated in a conspiracy against the throne, for which he was sentenced to death, but Russian influence brought him a speedy pardon. The ascent to the throne of the present king, Peter I., in 1903, brought him into favor again, and he became Minister of Foreign Affairs (1904-1905) and Premier in 1906-1908, and in 1912-1913. In 1914 he was again Premier, and was chiefly responsible for the diplomatic negotiations which resulted in the great war. With the king, he remained in the field with the troops, until Serbia was invaded, when he found refuge in Corfu, under English and PASIG French protection, until the victorious reentry of the Serbian army into Belgrade, after the final defeat of the Central Powers in 1918.