Matas Grigonis

Matas Grigonis (also known in his pseudonyms: Svirno Žvynė, Matas Gojelis, Dile Matas; 3 October 1889 – 7 January 1971) was a Lithuanian writer, educator, ethnographer, naturalist and is considered as one of the most active Lithuanian cultural figures of the early 20th century. His mother died early when he was just one year old and in 1893 his father married for a second time, thus he grew up with his stepmother.

In 1897–1900, Grigonis studied at Rokiškis Elementary School. Subsequently, Grigonis studied at the Mitau Gymnasium in 1900–1906 and the Vilnius Gymnasium in 1906–1907. He gained a qualification of the Lithuanian language teacher and has written tens of Lithuanian books for children, while his collection of poems Kvietkelis is the first Lithuanian children's poetry book, which was published in 1913.

Since 1907–1909 for many years (with breaks) Grigonis lived and taught in Panevėžys and actively contributed to its cultural and educational life.

Grigonis died on January 7, 1971 in Vilnius and was buried in the Rokantiškės Cemetery in Vilnius.