Anton Mollinary, full name Anton Freiherr Mollinary von Monte Pastello, was born in Titel in 1820. He was the son of Karl Mollinary (1792–1868), lieutenant colonel in the Tchaikovsky Border Battalion in Titel, and Josephine Edle Mollinary von Monte Pastello (Hohensinner von Lanzenfeld und Camponero). Anton desired a military career and in 1833 enrolled in the Imperial and Royal Pioneer School at the monastic barracks in Tulln an der Donau as a cadet. In 1837 he graduated as a lieutenant and was assigned to the 45th Galicia Infantry Regiment. Two years later he was transferred to the Staff of the Pioneer Corps in Vienna, where he reported to Lieutenant Colonel Karl von Birag.
Throughout his career, Anton distinguished himself as an accomplished engineer and was known for his work on the development of maritime infrastructure along the eastern Adriatic coast, including the Karlobag area. During the 19th century, he made significant contributions to the modernization of the Austrian Navy and the planning of ports that held strategic and economic importance for the entire region. For his contributions, he received numerous titles and honors, including the baronial title (Freiherrenstand) on July 9, 1872, which elevated him into the Austrian nobility. The title of baron was conferred upon Anton Mollinary by Emperor Franz Joseph I, the reigning Austro-Hungarian monarch at the time.
His technical work, as well as contributions to maritime traffic organization, left a mark in Karlobag's history, preserved in old postcards and records from that time. He was frequently involved in projects that improved port infrastructure and navigational safety along the Adriatic coast.
Today, Anton Mollinary’s legacy in Karlobag includes three major projects: the construction of the Senj–Karlobag road, the Karlobag waterfront, and the local primary school.
In honor of his contributions, a statue dedicated to this distinguished general once stood in the main square of Karlobag as a symbol of the local community's gratitude. Although the statue was removed, it still proudly appears on postcards from that era.
