SOŁTYK STANISŁAW (1753 - 1831)
Marshal of Sejm of the Duchy of Warsaw (9 - 23 December 1811)
Born in Krysk near Płońsk in 1753, died in 1831. He came from a rich gentry family. Royal
chamberlain 1780, Lord High Steward of the Crown 1784, awarded the St. Stanisław Order
1783 and the White Eagle Order 1788. A member of Masonic lodges, very active advocate of
state reforms, deputy from the Cracow province to II term of the Four-Year Sejm from 1790,
frequently supported the emancipation tendencies of the cities and the treasure repair by
selling the starosty titles. A member of the Radziwiłł Club which worked on the State Act in
sejm and on passing it, a member and founder of the Society of Friends of Constitution.
Participated in planning the Kościuszko Insurrection, but did not fight in it. Sent with a secret
diplomatic mission to the Vienna court, he was arrested 1794 and imprisoned by the Austrian
authorities. With the downfall of the Commonwealth, he got involved in the activity of
clandestine pro-independence groups home and in the emigration, became an activist of the
Polish Legions. With lack of real perspectives, he gave up his political activity and returned to
his estate at Chlewiska near Radom. He developed farming and metallurgy, which made him
one of the most important industrialists in the country. Active in the cultural life of 'Prussian'
Warsaw, where in his salon, the meeting place of scientists and writers, the Society of the
Friends of Sciences was set up in 1800. Together with Tadeusz Czacki and others, he founded
the Trade Society in 1802. Returned to politics in the Duchy of Warsaw, appointed by
Marshal Joachim Murat a member of the High Chamber of Justice in 1807.
Worked in parliament 1811 - 1812. Deputy from Szydłowiec district 1811 - 1812, nominated
sejm marshal in 1811 (on 7 December). He supported the government addresses, soothing the
voices of the opposition. In the Kingdom of Poland (Congress Kingdom), a deputy from
Szydlowiec district 1825, influenced the debates both as a member of the civil and criminal
law committee and the organiser of informal deputy meetings. On the last day of the debates
(13 June 1825), without the decision of the governor and the senate, he was appointed senator-
castellan by tsar Alexander I. In the authorities of the secret Patriotic Society from
c. 1823, arrested 1826, submitted to an interrogatory and brought up before the Sejm Court
1828 on a charge of high treason. Acquitted and set free 1829, worked in sejm committees
during the stormy debates of the 1830 sejm. He supported the November uprising 1830, but
due to his old age and poor health, he did not take part in the sejm debate, delivering by letter
his accession under the act of dethronement of Tsar Nicholas I (25 January 1831). In approval
of his patriotic activity, he was raised to the office of senator-voivode on 28 May 1831.
Portrait of Stanisław Sołtyk, c.1788
- Painted by Józef Grassi
- oil, canvas, 78,5 x 61 cm
- National Museum in Poznań, cat. N MNP. 391.