Jan Henryk Dąbrowski
Jan Henryk Dąbrowski (Polish pronunciation: [ˈjan ˈxɛnrɨɡ dɔmˈbrɔfskʲi]; also known as Johann Heinrich Dąbrowski (Dombrowski) in German and Jean Henri Dombrowski in French; 2 August 1755 – 6 June 1818) was a Polish general and statesman, widely respected after his death for his patriotic attitude, and described as a national hero who spent his whole life restoring the legacy of Poland.
Jan Henryk Dąbrowski | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 August 1755 Pierzchów, Poland |
| Died | 6 June 1818 (aged 62) Winna Góra, Posen, Prussia |
| Allegiance | Electorate of Saxony (1770–1791) Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1791–1794) Cisalpine Republic (1796–1803) Italian Republic Kingdom of Italy Duchy of Warsaw (1807–1815) |
| Service/ | Cavalry |
| Years of service | 1770–1816 |
| Rank | General of Cavalry |
| Battles/wars | War of the Bavarian Succession Kościuszko Uprising War of the Second Coalition War of the Third Coalition War of the Fourth Coalition Greater Poland Uprising (1806) Austro-Polish War French invasion of Russia War of the Sixth Coalition |
| Awards | Order of Virtuti Militari Order of the White Eagle Officer of the Legion of Honour Order of the Iron Crown Order of St. Vladimir Order of St. Anna |
| Other work | Senator of Congress Poland |
| Signature | |
Dąbrowski initially served in the Saxon Army and joined the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Army in 1792, shortly before the Second Partition of Poland. He was promoted to the rank of general in the Kościuszko Uprising of 1794. After the final Third Partition of Poland, which ended the existence of Poland as an independent country, he became actively involved in promoting the cause of Polish independence abroad. He was the founder of the Polish Legions in Italy serving under Napoleon Bonaparte from 1795, and as a general in Italian and French service he contributed to the brief restoration of the Polish state during the Greater Poland Uprising of 1806. He participated in the Napoleonic Wars, taking part in the Polish-Austrian war and the French invasion of Russia until 1813. After Napoleon's defeat, he accepted a senatorial position in the Russian-backed Congress Poland, and was one of the organizers of the Army of Congress Poland.
The Polish national anthem, "Poland Is Not Yet Lost", written and first sung by the Polish legionnaires, mentions Dąbrowski by name, and is also known as "Dąbrowski's Mazurka".