Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz (US: /njɛmtˈseɪvɪtʃ/ nyemt-SAY-vitch,[1]
Polish: [ˈjuljan ˈursɨn ɲɛmˈtsÉ›vitÊ‚]; 6 February 1758 â€" 21
May 1841) was a Polish poet, playwright and statesman. He was a
leading advocate for the Constitution of 3 May 1791.[2]Julian Ursyn
Niemcewicz was born 6 February 1758 in Skoki, near Brest in the
Polishâ€"Lithuanian Commonwealth. Niemcewicz, scion of a moderately
well-to-do Polish noble family, graduated from the Warsaw Corps of
Cadets.[3]After graduating from the Corps of Cadets, he subsequently
served as aide to Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski and visited France,
England and Italy. Niemcewicz served as a deputy to the Great Sejm of
1788â€"1792 and was an active member of the Patriotic Party that
pushed through adoption of the historic Constitution of 3 May 1791. He
was subsequently a founder of the Friends of the Constitution, formed
to support the implementation of that progressive document. After the
victory of the Targowica Confederation in 1792 and the consequent
overthrow of the May 3 Constitution, Niemcewicz, along with other
Patriotic Party members, emigrated to Germany.[2]During the
Kościuszko Uprising in 1795, Niemcewicz served as aide to Tadeusz
Kościuszko. Both were captured by the Russians at the Battle of
Maciejowice in 1794 and imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress at
St. Petersburg along with Niemcewicz's aide-de-camp named
Kuźniewski.[4][5] In 1796, on the death of Tsaritsa Catherine the
Great, they were released by Tsar Paul I and made their way together
to the United States,[6] where he visited Niagara Falls.[7]
Polish: [ˈjuljan ˈursɨn ɲɛmˈtsÉ›vitÊ‚]; 6 February 1758 â€" 21
May 1841) was a Polish poet, playwright and statesman. He was a
leading advocate for the Constitution of 3 May 1791.[2]Julian Ursyn
Niemcewicz was born 6 February 1758 in Skoki, near Brest in the
Polishâ€"Lithuanian Commonwealth. Niemcewicz, scion of a moderately
well-to-do Polish noble family, graduated from the Warsaw Corps of
Cadets.[3]After graduating from the Corps of Cadets, he subsequently
served as aide to Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski and visited France,
England and Italy. Niemcewicz served as a deputy to the Great Sejm of
1788â€"1792 and was an active member of the Patriotic Party that
pushed through adoption of the historic Constitution of 3 May 1791. He
was subsequently a founder of the Friends of the Constitution, formed
to support the implementation of that progressive document. After the
victory of the Targowica Confederation in 1792 and the consequent
overthrow of the May 3 Constitution, Niemcewicz, along with other
Patriotic Party members, emigrated to Germany.[2]During the
Kościuszko Uprising in 1795, Niemcewicz served as aide to Tadeusz
Kościuszko. Both were captured by the Russians at the Battle of
Maciejowice in 1794 and imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress at
St. Petersburg along with Niemcewicz's aide-de-camp named
Kuźniewski.[4][5] In 1796, on the death of Tsaritsa Catherine the
Great, they were released by Tsar Paul I and made their way together
to the United States,[6] where he visited Niagara Falls.[7]
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