Piotr Szembek

Piotr Szembek (; 14 December 1788 – 21 March 1866) was a military officer and count. He served in the Army of the Duchy of Warsaw during the Napoleonic Wars, including the War of the Fourth Coalition, the War of the Fifth Coalition, and the French invasion of Russia. Later he served in the Army of Congress Poland, where he rose to the rank of brigadier general. From 1830 to 1831, he was a commander in the Polish insurgent forces during the November Uprising.

Biography The 1832 painting by Józefat Ignacy Łukasiewicz, depicting Piotr Szembek, then a colonel in Polish insurgent forces during the November Uprising. Piotr Szembek was born on 14 December 1788 in Warsaw, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (now part of Poland). He came from noble family, and was a son of Józef Ignacy Szembek and Kunegunda Szembek (née Walewska). He was home-schooled, and later graduated from the Berlin Knight Academy in 1806. From 24 May 1829 to 24 January 1831, he commanded the 3d Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division, based in Sochaczew.

In 1813, he married Fryderyka Henrietta (Henryka) Bécu de Tavernie. Together they had a son, Aleksander Szembek.

On 17 January 1816, he received the title of count in the Kingdom of Prussia. In 1820, the title was also approved in Congress Poland.

Following the outbreak of the November Uprising, Szembek joined the insurgent forcess, becoming the commander of the 4th Infantry Division. He fought in the First Battle of Wawer and the Battle of Olszynka Grochowska. Szembek was considered very loyal to the uprising by his compatriots. One of his aides-de-camp was Franciszek Kacper Fornalski.

Szembek was also member of the masonic lodge of Français et Polonais Réunis.

He died on 21 March 1866 in Siemianice. 5th class National Order of the Legion of Honour (1813) Saint Helena Medal (1857) 2nd class Order of the Red Eagle (1861)