Background
Trnski was born in a family of teachers in the village of Nova Rača near Bjelovar. When his father died, Ivan was sent to the diocesan orphanage in Zagreb, where he went to the Gymnasium.
Trnski was born in a family of teachers in the village of Nova Rača near Bjelovar. When his father died, Ivan was sent to the diocesan orphanage in Zagreb, where he went to the Gymnasium.
He completed his primary education in Grubišno Polje in 1830. He completed the three-year course for administrative border officer in Graz.
Glorified by his contemporaries as a great poet and patriot, he is now considered a skillful poet and a prolific author of occasional verse. After serving for several years on the Military Frontier, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1867 and to Colonel in 1869. He was the first prefect of the Bjelovar-Križevci County from July 1871 till February 1872, when he renounced the post.
He died in Zagreb.
He was the brother-in-law of the Slovene liberal politician Karel Lavrič.