Jonas Basanavičius was a physician, folklorist, and most prominently, a leader of the Lithuanian national movement. In 1905, Basanavičius lived in Vilnius and participated in every major event leading to the independent Lithuanian state. Considered to be the moral president of the nation, he was chairman of the Great Assembly in Vilnius which in 1905 demanded autonomy for Lithuania. In 1917, Basanavičius was president of the conference that elected him to the Council of Lithuania. A year later, on February 16th, 1918, the Council of Lithuania proclaimed Lithuanian independence. Basanavičius also founded the Lithuanian Scientific Society, and for the next 2o years, he was president of the society, editor of its journal, and organizer of research in archaeology and folklore. Jonas Basanavičius was often given the informal honorific title of the "Patriarch of the Nation" for his contributions to Lithuanian independence. 

On the 16th of February, 1927, the 9th anniversary of Lithuania's independence, Jonas Basanavičius was diagnosed with bladder and lung infections that his body refused to fight. Basanavičius discussed these matters with the Lithuanian Scientific Society and expressed wishes to attend the independence celebrations. He died that day at 6:50 p.m. The Lithuanian government declared five-day mourning and sent a 12-member delegation to his funeral. Basanavičius was later buried in Rasos Cemetery on the 21st of February. 

An image of Jonas Basanavičius's grave. His resting place can be found respectfully in front of the neo-gothic chapel.