[Kosciuszko Piortrait] ............ [Kosciuszko Marker]

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Kosciuszko, Thaddeus Bonaventure

Hero of Poland and United States of America. Engineer, Born in Mereczowszczyzna, Poland, February 12, 1746. Graduated from the Military Academy in Warsaw, Poland, and higher Military School in Artillery and Engineering in Paris, France. Came to U.S. for the first time in 1776. On Oct. 18, 1776 appointed chief engineer of U.S. Army. Fortified Philadelphia, Pa., and for that became a colonel. In 1777 joined the Northern Army under General Gates. Fortified Saratoga and decided the victory on Oct. 17, 1777. General Gates wrote to the Congress: "Colonel Kosciuszko chose and entrenched the position." Kosciuszko also fortified West Point. Washington wrote of him: "To his care and seduIous appreciation, the American people are indebted for the defense of West Point." Founded West Point, also "Kosciuszko Garden." Drew the first map of West Point, N. Y. In 1779 transferred to the Southern Army under General Greene. General Greene said of him: "One of the most useful and amiable from among my comrades in-arms was Colonel Kosciuszko. His zeal for public service seems to be incomparable and in the solution of complicated problems, which we had to meet from time to time in the intermittent active war, there could have been nothing more useful than his opinion, his watchfulness and his constant application to the task in hand. In the execution of my orders he has been always willing, competent, inaccessible to any temptation of pleasure, not fatigued by any labor, intrepid in any danger. Never expressed a desire for anything in his favor, and has never omitted an opportunity to commend and reward the services of others." Congress of United States conferred upon Kosciuszko the rank of Brigadier General in 1783, and later he became the member of the Society of Cincinnati. In 1784 left U.S. for the first time. In 1794 became a leader of the Polish insurrection against Russia, and was mortally [?] wounded at Maciejowice, and imprisoned by Catherine II of Russia. Released from prison by Czar Paul and came to U.S. for the second time on Aug. 19, 1797 and settled in Philadelphia, Pa. On May 5, 1798 he made his last will and unexpectedly in May left U.S. the second time and forever. In Paris met Napoleon but refused to help him. Died on October 15, 1817 in Solure, Switzerland. Upon Koscinszko's death General William H. Harrison spoke of him in Congress of U.S. as follows: "His fame will last as long as liberty remains upon earth, and if, by common consent of the world, a temple shall be erected to those who have rendered most service to mankind, if the statue of our great countryman, Washington, shall occupy the place of the most worthy, that of Kosciuszko will be found by his side, and the wreath of laurel will be entwined with the poem of virtue to adorn his brow." Kosciuszko is called "Father of American Artillery." Gave the American artillery a set of regulations, contained in a book entitled: "Manoevres of Horse Artillery,'' written in Paris in the year 1800, and translated by Jonathan Williams in New York in 1808.

From: "Who's Who in Polish America" by Rev. Francis Bolek, Editor-in-Chief; Harbinger House, New York, 1943

[space] Item Title Source Date Remarks
[space] Name Kosciuszko, Thaddeus Bonaventure
[button] Article Kosciuszko Shrine Dedication Pol-Am Journal October 14, 1967 Pinkowski Inst. Archives
[button] Web Page Kosciuszko's Biography Kosciuszko Foundation - -
[button] Article Ask Me About Kosciuszko (Part 1) Pol-Am Journal October 14, 1967 by Edward Pinkowski
[button] Article Ask Me About Kosciuszko (Part 2) Pol-Am Journal October 14, 1967 by Edward Pinkowski
[button] Cover Dedication Program Kosciuszko Commemorative Committee October 22, 1967 Pinkowski Inst. Archive
[button] Article West Point Academy Salute To Kosciuszko Pol-Am Journal October 14, 1967 Pinkowski Inst. Archive
[button] Article General Thaddeus Kosciuszko Monument Polish American News April 1996 West Point, 250th anniversary
[button] Article Thaddeus Kosciuszko Monument Gwiazda July 26, 1979 in Philadelphia, at Four Seasons Hotel