Misplaced Pages

Gabriel Narutowicz: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 20:33, 2 March 2010 editMarekchelsea (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users6,572 edits Undid revision 347297355 by Varsovian (talk) this is sick, he is Lithuanian of Polish descent?! Think about it...← Previous edit Latest revision as of 02:46, 1 January 2025 edit undoMalborkHistorian (talk | contribs)253 edits added link. 
(342 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Polish academic and first President of Poland (1865–1922)}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Gabriel Narutowicz | name = Gabriel Narutowicz
| image = Gabriel narutowicz.jpg | image = Portret Narutowicz (cropped).jpg
| imagesize = | caption = Narutowicz in 1915
| smallimage = | order = 1st ]
| caption = | term_start = 11 December 1922
| order = 1st ] | term_end = 16 December 1922
| term_start = December 11, 1922 | primeminister = ]
| term_end = December 16, 1922 | predecessor = ] (as Chief of State)
| successor = ]<br /><small>] (acting)</small>
| vicepresident =
| order2 = ]
| viceprimeminister =
| deputy = | term_start2 = 28 June 1922
| president = | term_end2 = 14 December 1922
| primeminister = ], ] | primeminister2 = ]<br />]
| predecessor = ] (Chief of State)
| successor = ]<br><small>] (acting)</small>
| order2 = 8th ]
| term_start2 = June 28, 1922
| term_end2 = December 14, 1922
| vicepresident2 =
| viceprimeminister2 =
| deputy2 =
| president2 = ] (Chief of State)
| primeminister2 = ], ]
| predecessor2 = ] | predecessor2 = ]
| successor2 = ] | successor2 = ]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1865|03|17}} | office3 = Minister of Public Works
| term_start3 = 28 June 1920
| birth_place = ], Russian Lithuania (now ], ])
| death_date = {{death date and age|1922|12|16|1865|03|17}} | term_end3 = 6 June 1922
| primeminister3 = ] <br> ] <br> ]
| predecessor3 = Andrzej Kędzior
| successor3 = Władysław Ziemiński
| birth_name = Gabriel Józef Narutowicz
| birth_date = {{birth date|1865|3|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = ], ] (now ])
| death_date = {{death date and age|1922|12|16|1865|3|17|df=y}}
| death_place = ], ] | death_place = ], ]
| death_cause = ]
| constituency =
| party = None<br><small>(supported by the ])</small> | education = ]
| party = None<br /><small>(supported by the ])</small>
| spouse = | spouse = Ewa Krzyżanowska
| profession = ] | children = Stanisław, Anna
| profession = {{hlist|Engineer|Politician|Statesman|Diplomat}}
| religion = ] {{Citation needed|date=October 2007}}
| signature = | honorific_prefix =
| footnotes = | honorific_suffix =
}} }}
{{Agrarianism in Poland |Politicians}}
'''Gabriel Narutowicz''' (], ], 17 March 1865 – 16 December 1922, ], ]) was a professor of ] ] at ]'s ], and Poland's ] (1920–21), ] (1922), and first president of the ].
'''Gabriel Józef Narutowicz''' ({{IPA|pl|ˈɡabrjɛl naruˈtɔvit͡ʂ|lang}}; 29 March 1865 – 16 December 1922)<!--full dates in infobox, per MOS--> was a ] professor of ] ] and ] who served as the first ] from 11 December 1922 until ], five days after assuming office. He previously served as the ] from 1920 to 1922 and briefly as the] in 1922. A renowned engineer and politically independent, Narutowicz was the first elected ] following Poland's regained sovereignty from ].

Born into a noble family with the strong patriotic sentiment, Narutowicz studied at the ] before relocating to ] and completing his studies in ].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ipsb.nina.gov.pl/a/biografia/gabriel-narutowicz |title=Gabriel Narutowicz. |access-date=2018-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920104512/https://www.ipsb.nina.gov.pl/a/biografia/gabriel-narutowicz |archive-date=2019-09-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> An engineer by profession, he was a pioneer of ] and his works were presented at exhibitions across Western Europe. Narutowicz also directed the construction of the first European hydroelectric power plants in ], ] and ]. In 1907, he was nominated a professor of hydroelectric and water engineering in Zurich, and was subsequently assigned to maintaining the ]. In September 1919, Narutowicz was invited by the Polish authorities in rebuilding the nation's infrastructure after the devastation caused by ]. On 23 June 1920, Narutowicz became the minister of public works in ]’s government. Following his successful conduct of the Polish delegation at the ], on 28 June 1922 he became the minister of foreign affairs in ]’s cabinet.

During the elections in 1922, Narutowicz was supported by the center-left, most notably the ], and by national minorities, but was criticized by the right-wing ]. Far-right zealots, ultra-Catholic unions and nationalists targeted him for sympathy towards ]. Upon defeating the other candidate, ], Narutowicz was elected the first president of the ]. After only five days in office, he was assassinated by a mentally disturbed ] while viewing paintings at the ].<ref></ref> His funeral, attended by almost 500,000 people, was simultaneously a manifestation of peace which diminished the power of the far-right movement in the upcoming years.
Narutowicz was a non-practicing Catholic and an active ]; he participated in rituals throughout the whole country.


==Family== ==Family==
Gabriel Narutowicz was born into a Polish-Lithuanian noble family in ], ]. His father, Jan Narutowicz, was the local district judge and also the owner of the village of Brėvikiai in ]. For taking part in the ] against ], he was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment; he died when Gabriel was only one year old. Gabriel Józef Narutowicz was born into a ] ] in ], then part of the ] after the ] of the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://dzieje.pl/postacie/gabriel-narutowicz-1865-1922 |title=Gabriel Narutowicz (1865-1922) |access-date=29 October 2019}}</ref> His father, Jan Narutowicz, was a local district judge and landholder in the ]n village of {{Ill|Brėvikiai|lt}}. As a result of his participation in the ] against Imperial Russia, he was sentenced to a year in prison; he died when Gabriel was only one.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://opinie.wp.pl/gabriel-narutowicz-6151603717531777c |title=Gabriel Narutowicz - Najnowsze informacje |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref>


Gabriel’s mother, Wiktoria Szczepkowska, was Jan's third wife. After her husband's death, she had to rear their sons on her own. She was an educated woman, fascinated by ]. She had a great influence on Gabriel’s interests and views. In 1873 she moved to ], ], so that her sons would not have to attend a Russian school, where after, the January 1863 Uprising, Russification was more strongly enforced. Gabriel’s mother, Wiktoria Szczepkowska, was Jan's third wife. Following her husband's death, she raised the sons herself. An educated woman, intrigued by the philosophy of the ], she had a great influence on the development of Gabriel and his siblings' world view. In 1873 she moved to ], ], so that her children would not be forced to attend a Russian school (] in Latvia after the Uprising of 1863 was less enforced than in Lithuania and Poland, the center of the uprising).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://zw.lt/opinie/gabriel-narutowicz-litewski-polak-prezydent-polski-skonczylby-150-lat/ |title=Gabriel Narutowicz, litewski Polak, prezydent Polski, skończyłby 150 lat… |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref>


Gabriel Narutowicz’s brother, ], became a ]n citizen. In the late stages of ], he was a member of the ], the provisional ]. Stanisław’s signature appears on the ] of 16 February 1918. An illustration of the dual nature of the family's identity is Gabriel Narutowicz’s brother, ], who, after Lithuania regained independence in 1918, became a ], not Polish, citizen. Earlier, towards the end of ], Stanisław had become a member of the ], the provisional ]. He was a ] of the ] of 16 February 1918.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://przegladbaltycki.pl/6698,85-temu-samobojstwo-popelnil-stanislaw-narutowicz.html |title=85 lat temu samobójstwo popełnił Stanisław Narutowicz |access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref>


== 1865–1920== ==1865–1920==
], 1932)]]
Gabriel finished ] in Liepāja, Latvia. He began studying at the Institute for Mathematical Physics in ]. Due to illness, however, he was forced to give up those studies. He spent most of his life in ], where from 1887 to 1891 he studied at the ].
Narutowicz finished his secondary education at the ], ]. He then enrolled at the ], in the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics. Illness, however, caused him to suspend those studies and to later transfer to the ] in Switzerland, where he studied from 1887 to 1891.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://zw.lt/opinie/gabriel-narutowicz-litewski-polak-prezydent-polski-skonczylby-150-lat/ |title=Gabriel Narutowicz, litewski Polak, prezydent Polski, skończyłby 150 lat… |access-date=29 October 2019}}</ref>


During his studies he helped the Poles who were on the run from the Russian authorities. He was also connected with an emigration party called “]”. Thus, he was banned from returning to Poland; what is more, the Russian authorities issued a warrant for his arrest. In 1895 Gabriel Narutowicz became a Swiss citizen and, after completing his studies, he got his first job on the construction of the St. Gallen railway. Narutowicz helped exiled Poles on the run from the Russian authorities during his time in Switzerland. He was also connected with a Polish émigré socialist party, "]". As a result of his associations, he was banned from returning to Russia and had a warrant issued for his arrest. In 1895 Narutowicz became a Swiss citizen and, after completing his studies, he was employed as an engineer during the construction of the ] railway.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ipsb.nina.gov.pl/a/biografia/gabriel-narutowicz-1865-1922-minister-i-pierwszy-prezydent-rp |title=Gabriel Narutowicz |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref>


He was an excellent construction engineer. In 1895 he became a chief of works on the River Rhine. Later he was hired by the Kurstein technical office. His works were exhibited at the International Exhibition in Paris (1896) and he became a famous pioneer of electrification in Switzerland. He directed the construction of many hydroelectric power plants in Western Europe (in places such as: ], ] and ]). Narutowicz proved to be an outstanding engineering expert and, in 1895, became chief of works on the River Rhine. Later he was hired by the Kurstein technical office. His works were exhibited at the International Exhibition in Paris (1896), and he would become a famous pioneer of electrification in Switzerland. Narutowicz directed the construction of many other European hydroelectric power plants, such as in ], ], and ].


In 1907 he became a professor at ], in the water construction institute in Zurich. He was dean of that institute from 1913 to 1919. He was also a member of the Swiss Committee for Water Economy. In 1915 he was chosen chairman of the International Committee for regulation of the River ]. In 1907 he became a professor at ], in the water construction institute in Zurich. He was dean of that institute from 1913 to 1919. He was also a member of the Swiss Committee for Water Economy. In 1915 he was chosen chairman of the International Committee for the regulation of the River ].


During World War I he cooperated with the General Swiss Committee that helped victims of the war in Poland. He was also a member of ''La Pologne et la Guerre'', located in ]. He strongly believed in ideas voiced by ]. In September 1919, Narutowicz was invited by the Polish government to return to Poland, which he began helping rebuild. During World War I, he cooperated with the General Swiss Committee tasked with helping victims of the war in Poland and was also a member of ''La Pologne et la Guerre'', located in ]. A follower of the ideas of ], in September 1919 Narutowicz was invited by the Polish government to return to Poland to take part in the rebuilding of the nation's infrastructure.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.polskieradio24.pl/5/3/Artykul/1558551,Prezydent-Andrzej-Duda-zlozyl-kwiaty-na-grobie-Gabriela-Narutowicza |title=Prezydent Andrzej Duda złożył kwiaty na grobie Gabriela Narutowicza |access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref>


== 1920–22== ==1920–22==
]
After coming back to Poland, on 23 June 1920 Narutowicz became the Minister of Public Works in ]’s government. He held that post until 26 June 1922 (in four different subsequent cabinets: of Władysław Grabski, ] and the first and the second governments of ]). After becoming the Minister of Public Works, Narutowicz immediately started to work on the rebuilding of his country, using the experience acquired in Switzerland as a pioneer of electrification. He would soon go about reorganizing the reconstruction bureaucracy and reduce the number of employees fourfold over the course of two years, in that way greatly increasing its efficiency.


After coming back to Poland, on June 23, 1920 Narutowicz became the Minister of Public Works in ]’s government. He held that post until June 26, 1922 (in four different subsequent cabinets: of Władysław Grabski, ] and the first and the second government of ]). After becoming the Minister of Public Works, Narutowicz immediately started to work on the rebuilding of his destroyed country. He used the experience he had acquired while working in Switzerland, where he had been a pioneer of electrification. He reorganized the reconstruction administration and reduced the number of people employed in that field by about four times over the course of two years (in order to increase its efficiency). He travelled around the country to supervise and control the works. In 1921 almost 270,000 of buildings were rebuilt, over 300 bridges and most of the roads were mended and about 200&nbsp;km of highways was built. He designed dams and supervised the building of the hydroelectric power plant in Porabka on the river ], in ] and worked on river control of the ]. Narutowicz traveled around the country often to personally supervise and direct public works. By 1921 almost 270,000 buildings and 300 bridges had been rebuilt, most of the roads mended, and about 200&nbsp;km of highways added. He also designed dams and supervised the building of a hydroelectric power plant in Porąbka on the river ]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://biznesalert.pl/elektrownia-szczytowo-pompowa-porabka-zar-swietuje-40-lat-istnienia/ |title=Elektrownia Szczytowo-Pompowa Porąbka-Żar świętuje 40 lat istnienia |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref> in the ], and worked on irrigation control of the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://dzieje.pl/postacie/gabriel-narutowicz-1865-1922 |title=Gabriel Narutowicz (1865-1922) |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref>


He was perceived as a reasonable and broad-minded man. He was a member of the government in every subsequent cabinet (it was the period of constant government crises). In April 1922, Narutowicz was delegated (together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the time, ]) to participate in an international conference in ]. Thanks to him the Polish delegation was successful. According to some, a lot of foreign diplomats had greater trust in Narutowicz (he was highly respected in the West) than in the government of a newly established country. On June 28, 1922, he became the Minister of Foreign Affairs in ]’s government. He also held that post in the later government of ]. In October, 1922, he was a representative of Poland at a conference in ]. Politically he had a reputation as a moderate, reasonable and broad-minded man. He was a member of the government in every subsequent cabinet (a period of constant government crises and turnover). In April 1922, Narutowicz was delegated (together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the time, ]) to participate in the ], and was given credit for the success of the Polish delegation—many Western diplomats had greater trust in the highly respected Narutowicz than in the other government ministers of the newly re-established country.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.jpilsudski.org/artykuly-historyczne-pilsudski/jozefa-pilsudskiego-pisma-zebrane/item/2310-jozef-pilsudski-wspomnienia-o-gabrielu-narutowiczu |title=JÓZEF PIŁSUDSKI. WSPOMNIENIA O GABRIELU NARUTOWICZU |access-date=29 February 2020 |archive-date=31 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331003715/https://www.jpilsudski.org/artykuly-historyczne-pilsudski/jozefa-pilsudskiego-pisma-zebrane/item/2310-jozef-pilsudski-wspomnienia-o-gabrielu-narutowiczu |url-status=dead }}</ref>


In the elections to Parliament in 1922, he supported the National Public Union (Pol: Unia Narodowo-Państwowa), connected with Józef Piłsudski. He was a candidate of Public Union on Eastern Borderland (Pol: Państwowe Zjednoczenie na Kresach); however, he did not get a seat in the Parliament. On 28 June 1922, he became the Minister of Foreign Affairs in ]’s government. He also held that post in the later government of ]. In October 1922, he represented Poland at a conference in ]. In the election of ], he supported the center-right National Public Union (''Unia Narodowo-Państwowa''), connected with Józef Piłsudski. He himself was a candidate of the Public Union on Eastern Borderlands (''Państwowe Zjednoczenie na Kresach'') but did not gain a seat in Parliament.<ref name="president.pl">{{cite web|url=http://www.president.pl/en/president/polish-presidents/gabriel-narutowicz/|title=President of the Republic of Poland / President / Polish Presidents / Gabriel Narutowicz|website=www.president.pl|access-date=26 April 2018|archive-date=26 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326120115/https://www.president.pl/en/president/polish-presidents/gabriel-narutowicz/|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Elections== ==Elections==
] (left), ], 1922, days before Narutowicz was assassinated.]] ] in ], 1922]]
After having lost the elections, Narutowicz continued as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of Julian Nowak. To his own great surprise that December he was nominated as a candidate for the ensuing presidential election. Although Piłsudski tried to discourage him from becoming a presidential candidate (he himself had originally wanted to decline the nomination, which the ] had proposed), he eventually relented and accepted.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/historia/1533461,1,dlaczego-zginal-narutowicz.read |title=Dlaczego zginął Narutowicz |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref>


According to the ], the president had to be chosen by the ], that is, the two houses of parliament (Pol: ''Zgromadzenie Narodowe'' i.e. the Sejm and the Senate). There was no clear winner after the first round of voting. In the second round, the official socialist candidate, ], was eliminated; but again, there was no clear victor. The next to drop out were the two candidates most favored by representatives of the national minorities: namely, ] and ] (the latter supported by some of the Left). In the last and decisive round, only two candidates remained: Count ] (backed by the right-wing ] movement) and Narutowicz (supported by some center and left-wing parties as well as by spokesmen for various national minorities).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://historykon.pl/kalendarium-historyczne/9-grudnia-1922-roku-gabriel-narutowicz-zostal-wybrany-na-prezydenta-polski |title=9 grudnia 1922 roku Gabriel Narutowicz został wybrany na prezydenta Polski |access-date=29 February 2020}}</ref>
After having lost the elections, Gabriel Narutowicz continued to be the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of Julian Nowak. He was surprised that in December he was chosen to be one of the candidates in the presidential elections. Even Józef Piłsudski dissuaded him from standing for election. At first he wanted to decline the proposal of the members of ] (Pol: Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe “Wyzwolenie - PSL “Wyzwolenie”) but eventually accepted it.


] after being proclaimed president, 11 December 1922]]
At that time (according to the ] - 1921) the president was chosen by the ] (Pol: Zgromadzenie Narodowe – Sejm and Senate). There was no winner after the first round of voting. In the next round the socialist candidate, ], was eliminated, but no one won either. The next ones to drop out were: the candidate of the united groupings of the national minorities, ] and ] (supported by some part of the Left). In the last round, which had to be decisive, there were two candidates left: count ] (connected with the right-wing ] movement) and Gabriel Narutowicz (supported by some left wing parties and national minorities).


Narutowicz won thanks to votes of the Left, national minorities (who were opposed to National Democracy movement) and Polish People’s Party “Piast” (Pol: Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe “Piast” – PSL “Piast”), which (contrary to expectations) in the last round of voting supported Narutowicz, not the candidate of the right wing, Zamoyski. Eventually, Narutowicz got 289 votes and count Zamoyski – 227. Narutowicz was elected the first president of the Second Polish Republic. Narutowicz prevailed thanks to the votes of the left, of the representatives for national minorities vote (these representatives were determined to defeat the National Democracy movement), and of the centrist ] (PSL "Piast"). This last group, initially inclined toward Zamoyski, unexpectedly switched its backing to Narutowicz instead. Eventually, Narutowicz won 289 votes, whereas Zamoyski won only 227 votes, and so Narutowicz was elected the first president of the Second Polish Republic.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.prezydent.pl/prezydent/historia-prezydentury/ii-rzeczpospolita/ |title=II Rzeczpospolita |access-date=29 February 2020 |archive-date=25 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025110452/https://prezydent.pl/prezydent/historia-prezydentury/ii-rzeczpospolita/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>


His victory in the elections came as a surprise to the right wing. Following Narutowicz's election, Catholic and nationalist groups began an aggressive campaign against him. Among other things, they accused him of being an ] and a ]. Some segments of the press called him “the Jewish president”. The right wing, supported by General ], also criticized his relations with ] and his support of Piłsudski's policies. Manifesting their opposition against the swearing-in of the president-elect, members of the ] movement staged anti-government demonstrations in ]. Narutowicz's victory came as an extremely unpleasant surprise to various leading right-wingers. Following the election, certain Catholic and nationalist groups began an aggressive campaign against Narutowicz personally. Among other accusations, they called him an ] and a ], and some of the press referred to him as “the Jewish president”. The anti-] faction, supported by General ], also criticized the new president's overall support of Piłsudski's policies.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://jpilsudski.org/artykuly-ii-rzeczpospolita-dwudziestolecie-miedzywojnie/polityka-wewnetrzna-i-gospodarcza/item/1730-endecja-a-zabojstwo-prezydenta-gabriela-narutowicza |title=ENDECJA A ZABÓJSTWO PREZYDENTA GABRIELA NARUTOWICZA |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117055654/http://jpilsudski.org/artykuly-ii-rzeczpospolita-dwudziestolecie-miedzywojnie/polityka-wewnetrzna-i-gospodarcza/item/1730-endecja-a-zabojstwo-prezydenta-gabriela-narutowicza |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Presidency== ==Presidency==
Gabriel Narutowicz served as president of Poland for a mere five days.<ref>Richard M. Watt, ''Bitter Glory: Poland and Its Fate, 1918 to 1939'', p. 168.</ref> During his oath of office ceremony on 11 December 1922, members of the ] and others manifested their opposition against the president-elect with anti-government demonstrations in ]. Earlier on that day, opponents of his election attempted to prevent the president-elect from entering the ] by blocking the streets and throwing mud at his motorcade. Narutowicz was never comfortable with the widespread belief that he was a representative of ] in Polish politics. He had only become the candidate of the Polish Peasant Party "Wyzwolenie" by happenstance; he had also not expected to win the election (in its first-round Narutowicz gained just 62 votes whereas Count Zamoyski had 222).<ref name="president.pl"/>


During his first days after his taking the oath of office, Gabriel Narutowicz met with the representatives of the Christian Democratic Party and Cardinal ]. Narutowicz realized that it would be impossible to form a majority government in the Parliament, so he made an attempt to create a government beyond the purview of parliament. As a gesture to the ], he offered the post of ] to his rival Zamoyski.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rp.pl/Historia/312109963-Narutowicz--prezydent-ktory-chcial-jednoczyc.html |title=Narutowicz – prezydent, który chciał jednoczyć |access-date=29 October 2019}}</ref>
Gabriel Narutowicz was a president of the Polish Republic only for five days. The swearing in took place on December 11, 1922. During that day, demonstrators tried to stop the president-elect from getting to ] by blocking the streets. Narutowicz did not feel comfortable with the fact that he was perceived as the main figure of ]. He became the candidate of the Polish Peasant Party "Wyzwolenie" rather by coincidence; he also had not expected to win the ] (in the first round Narutowicz gained just 62 of all voices; whereas, count Maurycy Zamoyski - 222). Gabriel Narutowicz was trying to insulate himself from the brutal attacks of ].


==Death==
During the first days after the swearing in, Gabriel Narutowicz met the representatives of the Christian Democratic Party and the cardinal ]. Narutowicz took into account that it would be impossible to form a majority government in the Parliament, so he made an attempt to create the government beyond the purview of parliament. As a gesture to the right wing, he offered the post of ] to his rival, Maurycy Zamoyski.
{{Main|Assassination of Gabriel Narutowicz}}
] on a ], 22 December 1922.]]


Only five days after taking office, on 16 December 1922, Narutowicz was shot dead while attending an art exhibit in the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1922/12/17/archives/polands-president-assassinated-after-two-days-in-office-insane.html |title=Poland's President Assassinated After Two Days in Office |work=The New York Times |date=17 December 1922 |access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jozef-Pilsudski/Later-years |title=Gabriel Narutowicz |access-date=29 October 2019}}</ref> The assassin was a painter, ], who had some connections with the right wing party but became pro Piłsudski since 1905.
] at Narutowicz's ] ]]]


===Trial===
Just several days after taking office, on December 16, 1922, Narutowicz was shot at 12:00 a.m., in the ]. The assassin was a painter, ], who had connections with the ]. The death of the president was the result of an aggressive criticism held against him. The assassin was regarded as a hero. After he was sentenced to death (the execution took place on the slopes of the ] on January 31), some people from the right wing started to perceive him as a cult figure.
Niewiadomski was sentenced to death in a one-day trial and executed outside the ] on 31 January.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://culture.pl/en/article/assassination-at-the-art-museum-autumn-1922 |title=Assassination at the Art Museum - Autumn 1922 |access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref>


===Funeral===
The murder of the first president of the Second Polish Republic and the angry canvassing against him revealed impermanence of democratic mechanisms in Poland at that time. December 1922 revealed a huge level of intolerance and nationalistic feeling in Polish society.
Nearly 500,000 people attended
Narutowicz's funeral was simultaneously a manifestation of peace which diminished the power of the far-right movement in the upcoming years. He was buried with honors on 22 December 1922 in the vault of ] in ].


===In film===
The murder of Narutowicz was the main theme of a Polish feature film “Death of a President” (Pol: "Śmierć prezydenta" from 1977), directed by ].
The murder of Narutowicz was the main theme of the ] Polish feature film '']'' (Pol: ''Śmierć prezydenta''), directed by ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.polska1918-89.pl/pdf/smierc-prezydenta-film,2122.pdf |title=Śmierć prezydenta |access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref>


== See also == ==See also==
* ] * ]
{{clear}}
*


== References == ==References==
{{Reflist}}
* Richard M. Watt, ''Bitter Glory: Poland and Its Fate, 1918 to 1939'', New York, Simon and Schuster, 1979, ISBN 0-671-22625-8.
* {{cite book |title=Narodowa Demokracja 1893-1939 |last=Wapiński |first=Roman |authorlink=Roman Wapiński |coauthors= |year=1980 |publisher=Zakład Narodowy Imienia Ossolińskich |location=Wrocław |isbn=83-04-00008-3 |pages= }}


==Further reading==
{{start box}}
* Richard M. Watt, ''Bitter Glory: Poland and Its Fate, 1918 to 1939'', New York, ], 1979, {{ISBN|0-671-22625-8}}.
{{s-gov}}
* {{cite book|title=Narodowa Demokracja 1893-1939|author=Wapiński, Roman|author-link=Roman Wapiński|year=1980|publisher=Zakład Narodowy Imienia Ossolińskich|location=Wrocław|isbn=83-04-00008-3}}
{{succession box|title=]|before=]|after=]|years=1922}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box|title=]|before=]<br>(Head of State)|after=]<br>(Acting)|years=1922}}
{{end box}}


== External links==
{{Commons category}}
*

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box|title=]|before=]|after=]|years=1922}}
{{succession box|title=]|before=]<br />{{Small|(Head of State)}}|after=]<br />{{Small|(Acting)}}|years=1922}}
{{s-end}}
{{Presidents of Poland}} {{Presidents of Poland}}
{{Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Poland}} {{Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Poland}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata
|NAME=Narutowicz, Gabriel
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=The first elected President of the ]
|DATE OF BIRTH=17 March 1865
|PLACE OF BIRTH=], ]
|DATE OF DEATH=16 December 1922
|PLACE OF DEATH=], ]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Narutowicz, Gabriel}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Narutowicz, Gabriel}}
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]
]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
]
]
]
] ]
]

]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 02:46, 1 January 2025

Polish academic and first President of Poland (1865–1922)
Gabriel Narutowicz
Narutowicz in 1915
1st President of Poland
In office
11 December 1922 – 16 December 1922
Prime MinisterJulian Nowak
Preceded byJózef Piłsudski (as Chief of State)
Succeeded byStanisław Wojciechowski
Maciej Rataj (acting)
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
28 June 1922 – 14 December 1922
Prime MinisterArtur Śliwiński
Julian Nowak
Preceded byKonstanty Skirmunt
Succeeded byAleksander Skrzyński
Minister of Public Works
In office
28 June 1920 – 6 June 1922
Prime MinisterWładysław Grabski
Wincenty Witos
Antoni Ponikowski
Preceded byAndrzej Kędzior
Succeeded byWładysław Ziemiński
Personal details
BornGabriel Józef Narutowicz
(1865-03-29)29 March 1865
Telšiai, Russian Empire (now Lithuania)
Died16 December 1922(1922-12-16) (aged 57)
Warsaw, Poland
Manner of deathAssassination
Political partyNone
(supported by the Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie")
SpouseEwa Krzyżanowska
ChildrenStanisław, Anna
EducationETH Zurich
Profession
  • Engineer
  • Politician
  • Statesman
  • Diplomat
Part of a series on
Agrarianism in Poland
Ideologies
Principles
History
Intellectuals
Politicians
PartiesActive

Defunct

Gabriel Józef Narutowicz (Polish: [ˈɡabrjɛl naruˈtɔvit͡ʂ]; 29 March 1865 – 16 December 1922) was a Polish professor of hydroelectric engineering and politician who served as the first president of Poland from 11 December 1922 until his assassination, five days after assuming office. He previously served as the minister of public works from 1920 to 1922 and briefly as theminister of foreign affairs in 1922. A renowned engineer and politically independent, Narutowicz was the first elected head of state following Poland's regained sovereignty from partitioning powers.

Born into a noble family with the strong patriotic sentiment, Narutowicz studied at the Saint Petersburg Imperial University before relocating to Zurich Polytechnic and completing his studies in Switzerland. An engineer by profession, he was a pioneer of electrification and his works were presented at exhibitions across Western Europe. Narutowicz also directed the construction of the first European hydroelectric power plants in Monthey, Mühleberg and Andelsbuch. In 1907, he was nominated a professor of hydroelectric and water engineering in Zurich, and was subsequently assigned to maintaining the Rhine. In September 1919, Narutowicz was invited by the Polish authorities in rebuilding the nation's infrastructure after the devastation caused by World War I. On 23 June 1920, Narutowicz became the minister of public works in Władysław Grabski’s government. Following his successful conduct of the Polish delegation at the Genoa Conference, on 28 June 1922 he became the minister of foreign affairs in Artur Śliwiński’s cabinet.

During the elections in 1922, Narutowicz was supported by the center-left, most notably the Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie", and by national minorities, but was criticized by the right-wing National Democrats. Far-right zealots, ultra-Catholic unions and nationalists targeted him for sympathy towards Polish Jews. Upon defeating the other candidate, Maurycy Zamoyski, Narutowicz was elected the first president of the Second Polish Republic. After only five days in office, he was assassinated by a mentally disturbed Eligiusz Niewiadomski while viewing paintings at the Zachęta Art Gallery. His funeral, attended by almost 500,000 people, was simultaneously a manifestation of peace which diminished the power of the far-right movement in the upcoming years. Narutowicz was a non-practicing Catholic and an active Freemason; he participated in rituals throughout the whole country.

Family

Gabriel Józef Narutowicz was born into a Polish-Lithuanian noble family in Telšiai, then part of the Russian Empire after the partitioning of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. His father, Jan Narutowicz, was a local district judge and landholder in the Samogitian village of Brėvikiai [lt]. As a result of his participation in the January 1863 Uprising against Imperial Russia, he was sentenced to a year in prison; he died when Gabriel was only one.

Gabriel’s mother, Wiktoria Szczepkowska, was Jan's third wife. Following her husband's death, she raised the sons herself. An educated woman, intrigued by the philosophy of the Age of Enlightenment, she had a great influence on the development of Gabriel and his siblings' world view. In 1873 she moved to Liepāja, Latvia, so that her children would not be forced to attend a Russian school (Russification in Latvia after the Uprising of 1863 was less enforced than in Lithuania and Poland, the center of the uprising).

An illustration of the dual nature of the family's identity is Gabriel Narutowicz’s brother, Stanisław Narutowicz, who, after Lithuania regained independence in 1918, became a Lithuanian, not Polish, citizen. Earlier, towards the end of World War I, Stanisław had become a member of the Council of Lithuania, the provisional Lithuanian parliament. He was a signatory of the Act of Independence of Lithuania of 16 February 1918.

1865–1920

Memorial plaque commemorating Gabriel Narutowicz (ETH Zurich, 1932)

Narutowicz finished his secondary education at the Liepāja Gymnasium, Latvia. He then enrolled at the Saint Petersburg Imperial University, in the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics. Illness, however, caused him to suspend those studies and to later transfer to the Zurich Polytechnic in Switzerland, where he studied from 1887 to 1891.

Narutowicz helped exiled Poles on the run from the Russian authorities during his time in Switzerland. He was also connected with a Polish émigré socialist party, "Proletariat". As a result of his associations, he was banned from returning to Russia and had a warrant issued for his arrest. In 1895 Narutowicz became a Swiss citizen and, after completing his studies, he was employed as an engineer during the construction of the St. Gallen railway.

Narutowicz proved to be an outstanding engineering expert and, in 1895, became chief of works on the River Rhine. Later he was hired by the Kurstein technical office. His works were exhibited at the International Exhibition in Paris (1896), and he would become a famous pioneer of electrification in Switzerland. Narutowicz directed the construction of many other European hydroelectric power plants, such as in Monthey, Mühleberg, and Andelsbuch.

In 1907 he became a professor at ETH Zurich, in the water construction institute in Zurich. He was dean of that institute from 1913 to 1919. He was also a member of the Swiss Committee for Water Economy. In 1915 he was chosen chairman of the International Committee for the regulation of the River Rhine.

During World War I, he cooperated with the General Swiss Committee tasked with helping victims of the war in Poland and was also a member of La Pologne et la Guerre, located in Lausanne. A follower of the ideas of Józef Piłsudski, in September 1919 Narutowicz was invited by the Polish government to return to Poland to take part in the rebuilding of the nation's infrastructure.

1920–22

Narutowicz in his office, just days before the assassination

After coming back to Poland, on 23 June 1920 Narutowicz became the Minister of Public Works in Władysław Grabski’s government. He held that post until 26 June 1922 (in four different subsequent cabinets: of Władysław Grabski, Wincenty Witos and the first and the second governments of Antoni Ponikowski). After becoming the Minister of Public Works, Narutowicz immediately started to work on the rebuilding of his country, using the experience acquired in Switzerland as a pioneer of electrification. He would soon go about reorganizing the reconstruction bureaucracy and reduce the number of employees fourfold over the course of two years, in that way greatly increasing its efficiency.

Narutowicz traveled around the country often to personally supervise and direct public works. By 1921 almost 270,000 buildings and 300 bridges had been rebuilt, most of the roads mended, and about 200 km of highways added. He also designed dams and supervised the building of a hydroelectric power plant in Porąbka on the river Soła in the Beskid Mountains, and worked on irrigation control of the Vistula River.

Politically he had a reputation as a moderate, reasonable and broad-minded man. He was a member of the government in every subsequent cabinet (a period of constant government crises and turnover). In April 1922, Narutowicz was delegated (together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the time, Konstanty Skirmunt) to participate in the Genoa Conference, and was given credit for the success of the Polish delegation—many Western diplomats had greater trust in the highly respected Narutowicz than in the other government ministers of the newly re-established country.

On 28 June 1922, he became the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Artur Śliwiński’s government. He also held that post in the later government of Julian Ignacy Nowak. In October 1922, he represented Poland at a conference in Tallinn. In the election of 1922, he supported the center-right National Public Union (Unia Narodowo-Państwowa), connected with Józef Piłsudski. He himself was a candidate of the Public Union on Eastern Borderlands (Państwowe Zjednoczenie na Kresach) but did not gain a seat in Parliament.

Elections

President Gabriel Narutowicz with Marshal Józef Piłsudski in Warsaw, 1922

After having lost the elections, Narutowicz continued as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of Julian Nowak. To his own great surprise that December he was nominated as a candidate for the ensuing presidential election. Although Piłsudski tried to discourage him from becoming a presidential candidate (he himself had originally wanted to decline the nomination, which the Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie" had proposed), he eventually relented and accepted.

According to the March Constitution of Poland, the president had to be chosen by the National Assembly, that is, the two houses of parliament (Pol: Zgromadzenie Narodowe i.e. the Sejm and the Senate). There was no clear winner after the first round of voting. In the second round, the official socialist candidate, Ignacy Daszyński, was eliminated; but again, there was no clear victor. The next to drop out were the two candidates most favored by representatives of the national minorities: namely, Jan Baudouin de Courtenay and Stanisław Wojciechowski (the latter supported by some of the Left). In the last and decisive round, only two candidates remained: Count Maurycy Klemens Zamoyski (backed by the right-wing National Democracy movement) and Narutowicz (supported by some center and left-wing parties as well as by spokesmen for various national minorities).

Narutowicz leaving the Polish Sejm after being proclaimed president, 11 December 1922

Narutowicz prevailed thanks to the votes of the left, of the representatives for national minorities vote (these representatives were determined to defeat the National Democracy movement), and of the centrist Polish People’s Party "Piast" (PSL "Piast"). This last group, initially inclined toward Zamoyski, unexpectedly switched its backing to Narutowicz instead. Eventually, Narutowicz won 289 votes, whereas Zamoyski won only 227 votes, and so Narutowicz was elected the first president of the Second Polish Republic.

Narutowicz's victory came as an extremely unpleasant surprise to various leading right-wingers. Following the election, certain Catholic and nationalist groups began an aggressive campaign against Narutowicz personally. Among other accusations, they called him an atheist and a Freemason, and some of the press referred to him as “the Jewish president”. The anti-Pilsudski faction, supported by General Józef Haller, also criticized the new president's overall support of Piłsudski's policies.

Presidency

Gabriel Narutowicz served as president of Poland for a mere five days. During his oath of office ceremony on 11 December 1922, members of the National Democracy and others manifested their opposition against the president-elect with anti-government demonstrations in Warsaw. Earlier on that day, opponents of his election attempted to prevent the president-elect from entering the Sejm by blocking the streets and throwing mud at his motorcade. Narutowicz was never comfortable with the widespread belief that he was a representative of the Left in Polish politics. He had only become the candidate of the Polish Peasant Party "Wyzwolenie" by happenstance; he had also not expected to win the election (in its first-round Narutowicz gained just 62 votes whereas Count Zamoyski had 222).

During his first days after his taking the oath of office, Gabriel Narutowicz met with the representatives of the Christian Democratic Party and Cardinal Aleksander Kakowski. Narutowicz realized that it would be impossible to form a majority government in the Parliament, so he made an attempt to create a government beyond the purview of parliament. As a gesture to the right wing, he offered the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs to his rival Zamoyski.

Death

Main article: Assassination of Gabriel Narutowicz
Narutowicz lying in state on a bier, 22 December 1922.

Only five days after taking office, on 16 December 1922, Narutowicz was shot dead while attending an art exhibit in the Zachęta National Gallery of Art. The assassin was a painter, Eligiusz Niewiadomski, who had some connections with the right wing party but became pro Piłsudski since 1905.

Trial

Niewiadomski was sentenced to death in a one-day trial and executed outside the Warsaw Citadel on 31 January.

Funeral

Nearly 500,000 people attended Narutowicz's funeral was simultaneously a manifestation of peace which diminished the power of the far-right movement in the upcoming years. He was buried with honors on 22 December 1922 in the vault of St. John's Cathedral in Warsaw.

In film

The murder of Narutowicz was the main theme of the 1977 Polish feature film Death of a President (Pol: Śmierć prezydenta), directed by Jerzy Kawalerowicz.

See also

References

  1. "Gabriel Narutowicz". Archived from the original on 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  2. Narutowicz Gabriel at Encyclopaedia PWN.
  3. "Gabriel Narutowicz (1865-1922)". Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  4. "Gabriel Narutowicz - Najnowsze informacje". Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  5. "Gabriel Narutowicz, litewski Polak, prezydent Polski, skończyłby 150 lat…". Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  6. "85 lat temu samobójstwo popełnił Stanisław Narutowicz". Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  7. "Gabriel Narutowicz, litewski Polak, prezydent Polski, skończyłby 150 lat…". Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  8. "Gabriel Narutowicz". Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  9. "Prezydent Andrzej Duda złożył kwiaty na grobie Gabriela Narutowicza". Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  10. "Elektrownia Szczytowo-Pompowa Porąbka-Żar świętuje 40 lat istnienia". Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  11. "Gabriel Narutowicz (1865-1922)". Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  12. "JÓZEF PIŁSUDSKI. WSPOMNIENIA O GABRIELU NARUTOWICZU". Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  13. ^ "President of the Republic of Poland / President / Polish Presidents / Gabriel Narutowicz". www.president.pl. Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  14. "Dlaczego zginął Narutowicz". Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  15. "9 grudnia 1922 roku Gabriel Narutowicz został wybrany na prezydenta Polski". Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  16. "II Rzeczpospolita". Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  17. "ENDECJA A ZABÓJSTWO PREZYDENTA GABRIELA NARUTOWICZA". Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  18. Richard M. Watt, Bitter Glory: Poland and Its Fate, 1918 to 1939, p. 168.
  19. "Narutowicz – prezydent, który chciał jednoczyć". Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  20. "Poland's President Assassinated After Two Days in Office". The New York Times. 17 December 1922. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  21. "Gabriel Narutowicz". Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  22. "Assassination at the Art Museum - Autumn 1922". Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  23. "Śmierć prezydenta" (PDF). Retrieved 31 October 2019.

Further reading

External links

Political offices
Preceded byKonstanty Skirmunt Minister of Foreign Affairs
1922 		Succeeded byAleksander Skrzyński
Preceded byJózef Piłsudski
(Head of State) 		President of the Republic of Poland
1922 		Succeeded byMaciej Rataj
(Acting)
Heads of state of Poland
Kingdom of Poland (1917–1918) Jack of the President of Poland
Republic of Poland
(1918–1939)
Polish government-in-exile
(1939–1990)
Polish People's Republic
(1944–1989)
Republic of Poland
(1990–present)
*Acting
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland
Republic of Poland
Polish government-in-exile
People's Republic of Poland
Republic of Poland
Categories: