Nicolae Marinescu (general)

Nicolae Marinescu
Born(1884-09-02)September 2, 1884
Tigveni, Argeș County, Kingdom of Romania
DiedApril 28, 1963(1963-04-28) (aged 78)
AllegianceRomanian Army
Service / branchMedical Service
Years of service1907–1945
RankMajor general
Battles / wars
AwardsOrder of the Crown of Romania
Order of the Star of Romania
Croix de Guerre
Legion of Honour
Order of George I
Alma materCarol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Military Medical Institute [ro]
Minister of Health and Social Security
In office
4 April 1938 – 23 November 1939
Prime MinisterMiron Cristea
Armand Călinescu
Gheorghe Argeșanu
Constantin Argetoianu
Preceded byArmand Călinescu
Succeeded byNicolae Hortolomei
Minister of State Secretary for the Department of Labour, Health and Social Security
In office
23 August 1944 – 3 November 1944
Prime MinisterConstantin Sănătescu
Preceded byPetre Tomescu [ro]
Succeeded byLothar Rădăceanu (Labour)
Daniel Danielopolu (Health)

Nicolae M. Marinescu (2 September 1884 – 28 April 1963) was a Romanian medical doctor, an army general in World War II, and a politician, holding various cabinet positions.

He was born in Tigveni, Argeș County, the son of Marin and Joița Marinescu. He started his studies in Bucharest, first at School Nr. 25 until 1894, and then at the Saint Sava High School, graduating in 1901. He then attended the Faculty of Medicine (1901–1903) and the Military Medical Institute [ro] (1903–1907), also in Bucharest, graduating as sub-lieutenant, with the title of Doctor in Medicine and Surgery. He started practicing medicine at the Army's Central Hospital. Promoted to lieutenant in 1909, he was sent in 1910 to study in France and Germany, where he followed specialization internships in Paris (1911) and Berlin (1912).[1]: 203–4  After advancing to captain in 1912, he served the next year in Bulgaria with the 4th Infantry Division during the Second Balkan War. After Romania entered World War I on the side of the Allies in 1916, he served at the Medical Service of the General Staff, was promoted to major in November 1916, and then moved to Iași, where he was the chief medical officer at the Iași railway station. He advanced to lieutenant-colonel in November 1917 and colonel in April 1920.[1]: 205  In 1919 he served in the Tisza River campaign of the Hungarian–Romanian War.[2] Subsequently, he practiced medicine at the War Ministry, in Oradea, the General Staff, the Higher War School, and the Central Military Emergency Hospital [ro]. During that period, he was also professor of medicine at the Higher War School (1920–1926) and director of the Military Sanatorium in Carmen Sylva (1924–1938).[1]: 205 

Marinescu was promoted to brigadier general on 1 April 1937 and to major general in 8 June 1943. He served as Minister of Health and Social Security from 4 April 1938 to 23 November 1939 in the Cristea II, Cristea III, Călinescu, Argeșanu, and Argetoianu cabinets. After the Royal coup d'état of 23 August 1944, he served as Minister of State Secretary for the Department of Labour, Health and Social Security in the First Sănătescu cabinet, until 3 November 1944. He retired on 31 March 1945.[1]: 205–6 

He was arrested on 5 May 1950 by the Communist authorities and sentenced to 5 years of prison;[1]: 208  he was detained at Sighet Prison[3][4] and released on 8 July 1955. He returned to his home at 1, Arhitect Louis Blanc Street in Bucharest, only to find that it been confiscated and all his belongings had been taken away. He died in 1963, at age 78.[1]: 208 

  1. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference Argesis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Marinescu, Nicolae M.", Enciclopedia Argeșului și Muscelului (PDF) (in Romanian), vol. III, Pitești: Argeș County Museum, p. 48, retrieved February 26, 2024
  3. ^ "Gl.bg. dr. Nicolae Marinescu 1939–1940". directiamedicala.mapn.ro (in Romanian). Ministry of National Defence (Romania). Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  4. ^ "Memoria închisorii Sighet: Claudiu Secașiu, contribuții privind distrugerea elitei politice românești". www.memorialsighet.ro (in Romanian). Memorial of the Victims of Communism and of the Resistance. Retrieved February 26, 2024.