Captain Mato Marinović and Dr. Baldo Marinović: Contributions to the Development of Maritime Affairs and Medicine in Dubrovnik

Abstract

This paper examines the lives and professional activities of two prominent members from the Marinović family from Dubrovnik, Captain Mato Marinović and physician Baldo Marinović, and their contributions to the development of two key spheres of urban life: maritime enterprise and medicine, during the second half of the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century. The first part analyses Captain Marinović’s role in the development of Dubrovnik’s steam shipping industry through capital pooling, participation in steamship companies, and involvement in managerial structures during the consolidation phase of maritime enterprises. The second part presents the professional trajectory of his son, Dr. Marinović, within the broader process of healthcare institutionalization, tracing his path from his university education and wartime medical service to his work in municipal healthcare, professional associations, and wider public and social life of the city. Based on an analysis of contemporary newspapers and available publications, the paper seeks to assess the role of individuals in shaping social, cultural, and economic developments in Dubrovnik during the period under consideration, and to contribute to a fuller understanding of their activities within a broader historical context.