Stanisław Staszic

Stanisław Wawrzyniec Staszic (baptised 6 November 1755 – 20 January 1826) was a Polish philosopher and writer. A leading figure in the Polish Enlightenment, he was also a Catholic priest, geologist, poet, translator and statesman. A physiocrat, monist, pan-Slavist (after 1815) and laissez-fairist, he supported many reforms in Poland. He is particularly remembered for his political writings during the "Great (Four-Year) Sejm" (1788–1792) and for his large support towards the Constitution of 3 May 1791, adopted by that Sejm.

He co-founded the Warsaw Society of Friends of Learning (precursor to the Polish Academy of Sciences), of which he became president. He served as a member of the State Council of the Duchy of Warsaw and as minister of trade and industry in Congress Poland. Staszic is seen as the father of Polish geology, statistics, sociology, Tatra Mountains studies and exploration, mining and industry.

Life Early life Stanisław Staszic was born into a burgher family in the town of Piła (he was baptised on 6 November 1755), the youngest of four siblings. "Warnings for Poland" (or Warnings to Poland, Przestrogi dla Polski, 1790) "On the Origin of Mountains in Former Sarmatia and Later Poland" (O ziemorództwie gór dawnej Sarmacji, potem Polski, 1815)