Anton Martin Slomšek (26 November 1800 – 24 September 1862) was a Slovene bishop, author, poet, and advocate of Slovene culture. Slomšek was born to a peasant family in the hamlet of Slom near the village of Ponikva in the Municipality of Šentjur, Lower Styria. He studied theology and philosophy before being ordained in 1824 at the seminary in Klagenfurt. From 1829 to 1838 Slomšek was spiritual director of the seminary of Klagenfurt. In the latter year he became the priest of Saldenhofen an der Drau. In 1844 Slomšek moved to Sankt Andrä and headed the school of the Diocese of Lavant. He became a priest in Celje in 1846, and in the same year he was ordained Bishop of Lavant.