Life Ignacy Potocki

1 life

1.1 youth
1.2 political career
1.3 final years

life
youth

potocki born in radzyń on 28 february 1750 influential magnate potocki family. son of eustachy potocki , marianna kątska, brother of jerzy michał potocki, jan nepomucen eryk potocki , stanisław kostka potocki.

potocki alumnus of collegium nobilium in warsaw, student in years 1761–1765. 1765 studied theology , law in rome, attended collegium nazarenum, 1769. parents intended him join ranks of clergy, refused follow path. after traveling through italy , germany, returned poland around 1771. on 27 december 1772 married elżbieta lubomirska. marriage brought him close political faction of familia. on, potocki made major impression on many of contemporaries, being groomed next leader of familia. 1772 invited king stanisław ii augustus thursday dinners.

political career

as member (1772–1791) of poland s commission of national education (komisja edukacji narodowej) – world s first ministry of education – initiator of , presided on society elementary textbooks (towarzystwo ksiąg elementarnych, founded in 1775). presided on renovation of załuski s library (in 1774). involved in development of numerous projects, such history curriculum. in 1781 reviewed , endorsed hugo kołłątaj s work @ cracow academy. involvement educational projects earned him nickname bakałarz (holder of baccalarius degree, teacher). involvement educational reforms lessened during era of great sejm (1788–1792), when became increasingly involved wider reform program.

ignacy potocki anna rajecka

on 29 may 1773 received office of great clerk (writer) of lithuania, relatively low-ranked position seen below magnates of potocki family. participated in partition sejm of 1773, sat on several commissions. seeing himself in opposition king, refused seat on permanent council offered in march 1774. king tried appease him order of saint stanislaus on 14 july year, failed bring potocki side. instead, potocki became, next decade , half, 1 of chief political critics , opponents; on 1776 went moscow argue, unsuccessfully, limiting power of king , russian ambassador, otto magnus von stackelberg. later year, election sejm disputed, , king , stackelberg managed block election. in 1778 however, growing rift between king , stackelberg allowed him take, through political maneuvering, chairmanship of permanent council marshal of sejm. year became knight of order of white eagle.

in 1779 potocki joined freemasonry, , 1780 advanced head of freemasonry lodge. became de facto head of familia , , of anti-royal opposition (succeeding previous leader, stanisław lubomirski, upon death in 1783). year saw sudden death of wife. during trip italy , france, in absentia, influence of familia resulted in appointment office of court marshal of lithuania. continued oppose various royal projects @ sejms of 1784 , 1786. in 1785 lost face involvement in dogrumowa affair, in king falsely accused of instigation of poisoning attempt.

disappointed russia s lack of support serious reforms in poland, shifted favoring alliance kingdom of prussia instead. although resulted in split of anti-royalist opposition, seen leader of opposition (the patriotic party) when great sejm begun in 1788. after initial political manevrouving, issues of closer relation prussia (that grew polish-prussian alliance) , major reform of government, both closely involved, begun accelerating in 1789. @ first supportive more of republican form of government, political reality (such royal faction victory @ elections of 1790) resulted in acceptance of more constitutional monarchy approach. in 1790, through mediation of scipione piattoli, king , potocki begun drifting closer together, working on draft document become 3 may 1791 constitution. alongside poniatowski, kołłątaj , piattoli, seen 1 of major authors of document. supported quasi-coup d état in constitution passed on 3 may 1791.

on 17 may 1791, had resign position in commission of national education take appointment (minister of police) in newly created government, guard of laws. march 1792 held position of minister of war. during war in defence of constitution in 1792 went on unsuccessful diplomatic mission berlin request assistance prussian government. on 4 july 1792 sudden depression made him resign ministerial positions. vocal opponent of targowica confederation , author of anonymous anti-targowica brochure, requested russian government not involved in negotiations; refused join targowica confederation, after poniatowski s accession it.

final years

following victory of targowica confederation , abrogation of may 3rd constitution, potocki emigrated polish–lithuanian commonwealth, settling in leipzig. tadeusz kościuszko, proposed plan french-polish alliance of republics, not met support in france. co-authored work hugo kołłątaj, on adoption , fall of polish constitution of 3 may (o ustanowieniu upadku konstytucji polskiej 3-go maja, 1793).

potocki participated in preparations kościuszko uprising of 1794. in april left leipzig , arrived in kraków. involved in unsuccessful diplomatic negiations various foreign powers, in vain attempt gain support insurgents. during uprising served member of supreme national council (rada najwyższa narodowa), chief of diplomatic department. upon suppression of uprising, instead of emigrating again, took part in surrender negotiations, gained him respect in many quarters. on 21 december 1794 imprisoned tsarist russian authorities. has lost of wealth following uprising, of estates confiscated. near end of life troubled inability pay off debts 1780s.

released in 1796, following death of catherine great, potocki retired kurów, galicia (southern poland). there devoted himself historical studies, publishing several books, translations , commentaries. wrote poems, never published during lifteime. historians still debate on potential authorship of several anonymous works (primarily political brochures). distanced himself activists discussing new insurrection, nonetheless arrested , imprisoned austrian authorities again in years 1798–1800. in 1801 joined warsaw scientific society. returned politics shortly after of galicia liberated napoleon , attached duchy of warsaw. during negotiations napoleon in dresden contracted severe diarrhea , died on 30 august 1809. buried in wilanów.

he had no direct descendants, daughters died in infancy. reduced estates inherited nephew, aleksander potocki.