Zygmunt Czechowicz

Zygmunt Czechowicz-Lachowicki alis Lachowicz (; 19 August 1831 – 27 October 1907) was one of the leaders of the January Uprising.

Early years Czechowicz was born in the estate in the Vilna Governorate (now Pastavy District in Vitsebsk Region of Belarus) into the family of a chamberlain who took part in the 1830-1831 November Uprising. He was the son of Bernard Czechowicz-Lachowicki and Józefa nee Mirska. His family was using the Ostoja coat of arms.

In 1851 he finished the Vilna Noble Institute and later graduated with honours from St. Petersburg University.

On 31 July 1863 Czechowicz was arrested after being identified by a Tsarist spy. He was sentenced to death; however, the sentence was later commuted to 10 years of hard labour, following intervention by on his behalf. He served his sentence in the Nerchinsk katorga mines in Transbaikal.

Death and memory Czechowicz died at the age of 76 in Malyja Biasiady on 27 October 1907. He is buried at a cemetery in the town of Radaškavičy.

Czechowicz’ life inspired the Belarusian writer Uładzimier Karatkievič. It is reflected in Karatkievič’s play "The Cradle of the Four Witches", which shows the great formative influence of Czechowicz on young Janka Kupała.

He was twice marred, had one daughter Zofia, and two sons: Zbigniew and Stanisław.