- Wincenty Krasiński
Count Wincenty Krasiński (1782–1858) was a Polish nobleman (
szlachcic ), political activist and military leader.His military career began at the age of eight in 1791 in the National cavalry. He advanced in rank to
Chorąży and Lieutenant in 1793, being only ten at the time. Although this was more a military school service than a real combat experience, he became later a brave a capable commander. After thepartitions of Poland , he became an enthusiastic supporter of Napoleon Bonaparte. As the French Army entered occupied Prussian Poland, Wincenty Krasiński created a cavalry squadron at his own expense.He participated in
Napoleon s Campaigns from 1807 to 1814. He became the commander of the 1st Chevau-LégersLancer s,Imperial Guard regiment. In 1811 advanced in rank to Brigadier-General and in 1813 to Division-General (gen. dywizji). From 1814 commanded the Polish Corps. In France he is known as Vincent de Corvin-Krasinski [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_g%C3%A9n%C3%A9raux_de_la_R%C3%A9volution_et_du_Premier_Empire] .Wincenty Krasiński participated in numerous battles. He fought at Wagram in 1809, the Russian Campaign from 1812 to 1813 and the Campaign of 1814. He was awarded the
Virtuti Militari in 1810 and theLégion d'honneur order in 1811.After the abdication of Napoleon, Wincenty Krasiński became commander of a Guard Division ( _pl. dywizja gwardyjska) in the Polish Congress Kingdom in 1815. From 1818 he served as General-Adjutant of the
Czar andSejm Marshal . He became senator-voivode and was awarded theOrder of the White Eagle in 1821.In 1828 as member of the
Sejm Court, during the trial against the activists of the "Patriotic Society" (among othersStanisław Sołtyk ), he was the only senator who voted for death penalty. For this he was condemned by public opinion and independence circles alike.He refused to join the
November Uprising in 1830 and was from 1831 General-Adjutant of the Russian CzarNicolas I . From 1833 Wincenty Krasiński served as member of the Russian Council of the State.In 1844 he founded the
Krasinski Ordynacja Library in Warsaw. From 1855 to 1856 he served as governor of Polish Congress Kingdom. Wincenty Krasiński became the 1stOrdynat (1844), andstarost ofOpiniogóra estates.Wincenty Krasiński married Princess Maria Urszula Radziwiłł on September 12, 1803 in
Lwów . He died on November 24, 1858 in Warsaw.He was father of
Zygmunt Krasiński , one of Poland's greatest romanticpoet s.Decorations
*
Virtuti Militari , highest decoration for bravery on the battlefield, awarded in 1810.
*Légion d'honneur , awarded in 1811.
* Knight of theOrder of the White Eagle , highest Polish decoration, awarded in 1821.
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