Józef Boruwłaski

Józef Boruwłaski (November 1739–September 5, 1837) was a Polish-born dwarf who was employed by the court and who was also a musician who toured in European and Turkish courts.

Early life Józef Boruwłaski was born in November 1739, near Halych in what was then the Kingdom of Poland, but which is now in modern day Ukraine. His parents seem to have been impoverished gentry. Boruwłaski's parents have been described as "middle sized", and Boruwłaski became known for his restricted growth. By the age of 3, he measured around one foot in height and barely reached three feet tall as an adult. Two of his five siblings were also short, but he did have a brother who grew to be in height who later died in battle as a soldier.

Money problems Although he was sometimes able to make a reasonable living from his music, the problems and expenses of touring sometimes wore Boruwłaski down. His wife seems to have been a poor traveller, and often pleaded illness and stayed at home. Money problems forced Józef to display himself for money (which he found deeply humiliating) and to bring out three different editions of his autobiography, the last published at Durham in 1820.

Retirement in Durham Eventually, in his advancing years, Boruwłaski accepted an offer to live in Durham, from Thomas Ebdon, organist of Durham Cathedral.

Józef was also close friends with another important resident of Durham, the actor Stephen Kemble of the famous Kemble family.

In Durham Boruwłaski also became a passionate angler, becoming the first Polish person to describe the artificial fly technique.

Death and memorials Józef Boruwłaski died in Durham, on September 5, 1837, at the age of 97. Józef was buried in Durham Cathedral, as was his friend in life Stephen Kemble. Whilst the grave of Kemble (which is in the Chapel of the Nine Altars) has a large stone slab with an inscription, the last resting place of Józef Boruwłaski is marked simply with the initials J.B. on a flagstone. It can be found on the floor in the north west nave of the cathedral, under the RAF Memorial Window.

There is a life-size statue of him in the Durham Town Hall, together with a small display of his personal effects, including a suit, hat, cane, chair and violin. The Town Hall also has a large oil painting of Józef as an old man. A tetrastyle Greek temple, restored in 2007, stands on the banks of the River Wear at Durham: this is called the 'Count's House' and its position suggests that it may have been an ornamental folly in the Count's garden. There is a collection of documents relating to the man Durham people called 'the Little Count' at the Palace Green library of Durham University.