Zdzisław Lubomirski

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Prince
Zdzisław Lubomirski
Mayor of Warsaw
In office
August 5, 1916 – October 6, 1917
Preceded byAleksander Miller
Succeeded byPiotr Drzewiecki
Personal details
Born(1865-04-04)April 4, 1865
Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod Governorate, Russian Empire
DiedJuly 31, 1943(1943-07-31) (aged 78)
Mała Wieś, Poland
NationalityPolish
OccupationAristocrat, lawyer, politician

Prince Zdzisław Lubomirski (pronounced

mayor of Warsaw. He was an activist of the "Real Politics Party" (Stronnictwo Polityki Realnej) and from 1917 to 1918 member of the Regency Council.[1] From 1928 until 1935 member of the Senate and chairman of the "Council of Landowner Organisations" from 1931 to 1935.[2]

In 1893, Lubomirski married Maria née

Mala Wies, near Grójec
.

Early life and education

Zdzislaw Lubomirski was born on April 4, 1865, in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod. He was the son of Prince Jan Tadeusz Lubomirski, and Maria née Zamoyska. Since his patriotic parents wanted their son to be raised in a Polish spirit, as a child he was sent to Austrian Galicia, where he attended Kraków's St. Anna High School. In 1883–1887, Lubomirski studied law at Jagiellonian University and University of Graz.[3]

Career

In the early 20th century, Lubomirski became a well-known public figure in partitioned Poland, due to his charity work. In 1904, he became a deputy chairman of Warsaw Association of Charity, and a curator of the Ophthalmic Institute, which provided free eye exams for the poor. Since official education in Russian-controlled Congress Poland was carried out in the Russian language, Lubomirski helped with founding Polish language schools and libraries. He co-founded administrative and organizational foundations of the future Polish education system. He co-created an organization called Spojnia Narodowa (National Unity; 1905), and participated in meetings of teachers – members of Association of National Education.

World War I

During World War I, the prince continued his charity activities. Among others, he was chairman of such bodies, as Committee of Support of Social Work, Polish Sanitary Help Committee, and Temporary Self-Help of Landowners. On August 3, 1914, Lubomirski became a member of Civic Committee of the City of Warsaw. Since Russian oversight of this body was almost non-existent, the Civic Committee enjoyed wide autonomy. His activities were highly praised by residents of Warsaw. In August 1915, during the

Great Retreat, the armies of the German Empire entered Warsaw. Lubomirski refused to leave the city, and with permission of German authorities, he was named chairman of the Central Civil Committee. Under his leadership, a network of Polish language schools was created, and Lubomirski served as a mediator between Polish residents and German government (the committee was later renamed into Central Welfare Council). In order to win maximum autonomy for Poland, Lubomirski cooperated with the Germans. At the same time, he tried to democratize political life of the country. On July 16, 1916, with permission of German authorities, elections for Warsaw local government took place, after which Lubomirski became the mayor of the city. On December 13, 1916, Lubomirski for the first time met with Józef Piłsudski
, offering him a post in the future Polish government.

On November 5, 1916, the emperors of Germany and

Kingdom of Poland (1916–18)). A year later, on September 16, 1917, the Germans created a provisional government of Poland, the Regency Council, led by Prince Lubomirski,[4] one of its three members along with Archbishop Aleksander Kakowski, and Józef Ostrowski. The council had its first meeting at Warsaw's Royal Castle on October 27, 1917.[1]

Political life

The Regency Council. Left to right: Ostrowski, Kakowski, and Lubomirski.

On October 7, 1918, on initiative of Prince Lubomirski, Polish declaration of independence was announced. Seven days later, the first

Naczelnik Panstwa
). On November 10, 1918, Lubomirski welcomed Pilsudski at Warsaw's Rail Station, and four days later, Pilsudski became the Polish head of state.

In the early 1920s Lubomirski stayed away from political life. He decided to return to politics after the May Coup. On May 13, 1926, he talked with Piłsudski at Warsaw East Rail Station. Soon afterwards, he was among four men considered for the post of President of Poland, but refused to accept the nomination. In 1928–1935, Lubomirski was a senator of the Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government, and a chairman of two Senate commissions – foreign affairs and military. He frequently participated in different international events, such as 1929 funeral of Marshal Ferdinand Foch.

In 1930, Lubomirski resigned from the Senate in protest against the

sanacja
government was aware of this, and blocked Lubomirski's run for Senate election in 1938. Meanwhile, Lubomirski continued his charity activities as a member of several civic organizations.

Invasion of Poland and death

In September 1939, during the

German occupation of Poland, he worked on creating an underground government under General Juliusz Rómmel, in which he was to be foreign minister. It was never created, as Polish leaders decided to open the government-in-exile, first in Paris and since summer 1940, in London. Lubomirski decided to stay in occupied Poland. On November 10, 1942, he was arrested by the Gestapo, and spent two months in prison. During this time, his health deteriorated, and he never recovered. Lubomirski died on July 31, 1943, in his real estate in Mała Wieś near Grójec
. He was buried in a parish church at Bielsko Duże.

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b Monitor Polski, z dn. 7 października 1918, s. 1.
  2. Polish Senate
    . 2017.
  3. ISBN 0313034567
    .
  4. ISBN 1134289480
    .
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zdzisław_Lubomirski&oldid=1184596268"