Zygmunt Janiszewski

Zygmunt Janiszewski ( ; 12 July 1888 – 3 January 1920) was a Polish mathematician, indpendence activist, a leading representative of the Warsaw School of Mathematics and the initiator of the idea of the Polish School of Mathematics.

Early life and education He was born to mother Julia Szulc-Chojnicka and father, Czeslaw Janiszewski who was a graduate of the University of Warsaw and served as the director of the Société du Crédit Municipal in Warsaw.

Janiszewski left Poland to study mathematics in Zürich, Munich and Göttingen, where he was taught by some of the most prominent mathematicians of the time, such as Heinrich Burkhardt, David Hilbert, Hermann Minkowski and Ernst Zermelo. He then went to Paris and in 1911 received his doctorate in topology under the supervision of Henri Lebesgue. His thesis was titled Sur les continus irréductibles entre deux points (On the Irreducible Continuous Curves Between Two Points). Along with other officers, he refused to swear an oath of allegiance to the Austrian government. He subsequently left the Legions and went into hiding under an assumed identity, Zygmunt Wicherkiewicz, in Boiska, near Zwoleń. He also founded the journal Fundamenta Mathematicae. Janiszewski proposed the journal's name in 1919, but the first issue was published only after his death in 1920.

Janiszewski devoted the family property that he had inherited from his father to charity and education. He also donated all the prize money that he received from mathematical awards and competitions to the education and development of young Polish students.

Death Janiszewski was engaged to Janina Kelles-Krauz, daughter of Kazimierz Kelles-Krauz. The wedding date had been set, but he died before they could marry. His life was cut short by the influenza pandemic of 1918–19,

While Janiszewski is best remembered for his many contributions to topological mathematics in the early 20th century, for the founding of Fundamenta Mathematicae, and for his enthusiasm for teaching young minds.

On 3 January 2020, the 100th anniversary of his death, a researcher from Australia traveled to Lviv and met with the director of Lychakiv Cemetery. Restoration of the grave was arranged, and the stone was restored. Janiszewski is buried in field 58, plot 82 of Lychakiv Cemetery.

Recognition On 7 July 1931, Janiszewski was posthumously awarded the Cross of Independence for his work toward restoring Poland’s independence. Janiszewski has a street named in his honour in the city of Wrocław.

In 1982, the Polish Post issued a 12-złoty commemorative stamp featuring Janiszewski as part of the "Polish Mathematicians" series.