Author
Ignacy Łobarzewski ok.1750-1826

Not much is known about Łobarzewski’s youth. Since around 1778, he served in the Regiment of Foot of the Land of Rydzyna, under the command of August Sułkowski, and travelled a lot with him around Europe. He wanted to transplant the model of the English constitutional monarchy to Poland, yet after its adaptation to Polish realities. He expressed this intent in a treatise entitled Zaszczyt wolności polskiej angielskiej wyrównywający (1789), and in another work developing his theses: Testament polityczny synowi ojczyzny zostawiony, z planem bezpiecznym formy republikańskiego rządu (1789) as well as a response triggered by polemic reactions Odpowiedź autora Testamentu politycznego na list do niego drukiem przesłany (1789 ). He was a secret collaborator of the Russian embassy (with a salary of 240 ducats a year, paid since 1787). After a favourable reception of the above-mentioned writings, he received a salary also from the Polish king Stanisław August Poniatowski. In the era of the Four-Year Seym (1788–1792) he travelled around Europe. For plotting inside his regiment, he was put before court-martial in 1791 and sentenced: he was removed from military service and deprived of the officer rank. The Military Commission approved that verdict and also extended it by six months in prison, which Łobarzewski escaped only thanks to protection: he received support, among others, from king Stanisław August Poniatowski. Wanting to avoid confrontation with his numerous enemies, Łobarzewski left for Prussia and then for St. Petersburg. He eventually joined the Russian army, where he had already served in the Polish campaign of 1792. Thanks to Russian principals and Targowica-related circle, he was cleared of the old charges. At the Grodno Seym of 1793, as a Chernihiv deputy (and, at the same time, a major of the Russian army), he opted for the signing of the partition treaty and fought against the opposition. After the outbreak of the Kościuszko Uprising, he escaped from Warsaw. The insurgent authorities put his name among the wanted persons who were to stand trial (there is also a hypothesis that he was sentenced to death in absentia). Łobarzewski never returned to Warsaw. He settled in St. Petersburg and worked for the tsarist administration. Between 1818 and 1823, he published three papers (in French), where he justified the need for a Polish-Russian settlement, defended the policy of Stanisław August and Targowica’s leaders, criticised Napoleon and revolutionary ideas, contrasting them with the virtues of monarchism, especially those epitomised by Russian absolutism. He died most probably in 1826, although researchers also mention the year 1822.

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