LECH PASZKOWSKI:

STRZELECKI THE EXPLORER AND SCIENTIST

Strzelecki is the best known of all Poles who have contributed to Australia’s history. He achieved fame and outstanding recognition not only in the Antipodes, but in Great Britain, Ireland, the United States and Canada. Polish people contributed little to proclaim his achievements and building his reputation. Occupied with the vital problems of national survival, they gave little thought to one of the hundreds of their able men who went abroad. In fact, eighty- four years elapsed from the time of Strzelecki’s death until first serious biography about him was published in Poland 2), and that only because of the interest of a single writer. Paul Edmund Strzelecki was born on 20 July 1797 at Gluszyna near Poznan.3) He was a descendant of a respectable family, Strzelecki of Strzelce, which had been known as such since 1391.4) The history of this family is outlined by T. Żychliński in the Golden Book of the Polish Nobility. 5) The wealth and influence of the Strzeleckis declined later, but they maintained the standard of ‘middle’ nobility. The majority of Paul Strzelecki’s relatives were university educated, an impossible attainment in the nineteenth century foe the poorest of the gentry. Paul’s father, Francis Strzelecki, was a Polish nobleman, or szlachcic, who rented two handsome estates, Głuszyna and Babki, the former 900 acres, belonging to a Bishop of Poznan. In 1797 or 1798, the Prussian authorities confiscated these estates and Francis Strzelecki moved out, most probably to another leased property. 6) The Strzeleckis of Strzelce were a proud, old family. The question of Strzelecki’s right to a title has been either maliciously or incompetently presented by some Australian authors.7)

Paul’s mother died in 1807 when he was ten.8) The date of the death of his father is not known, but it too must have been early as, at the age of thirteen, Paul was sent to Warsaw where he attended school, most probably that of the Piarist Fathers. He stayed with Józef Żmichowski, a clerk in the law court, who was the husband of Paul’s aunt. Paul soon moved to the home of his first cousin, Francis Xavier Kiedrzyński, a well-known lawyer and owner of a prosperous estate near Warsaw. 9) Both of young Paul’s protectors were Freemasons. 10 ) After about four years in Warsaw, Paul Strzelecki went to Cracow and in 1817, he was taken back to Poznan by his elder brother, Peter. Peter, an officer in Napoleon’s army 11) had been released by the Austrian after being a prisoner of war.

The two brothers went to their sister, Izabella, who had married Józef Słupski, leaseholder on an estate of Skubarczewo near the city of Gniezno.12) Paul served with the Prussian army in a cavalry regiment, but left the service after reaching the rank of ensign. He probably spent the next few months as a tutor in the homes of the local nobility. During that period Strzelecki became acquainted with Adam Turno, then a wealthy landowner, and his daughter Alexandrina, whose pet name was Adyna. According to Narciza Żmichowska, Strzelecki tried unsuccessfully to elope with Adyna. There is no real evidence of this affair and it seems that the story has been slightly over-romanticised and exaggerated. Even the likely place of the alleged elopement is wrongly given.13)

Some biographers have stated that Strzelecki was, at the time, in a poor financial position yet ‘he made a short stay at Toplitz, then in Saxony, and later was at Carlsbad’14). In those days travel was slow and expensive and not everybody could afford such luxury. It is known that Strzelecki visited Italy, Switzerland, which is sufficient proof that he was a gentleman of some means. In Italy, Paul met Price Frances Sapieha, who, like scores of other intelligent, well-educated people, was greatly impressed with the brilliant personality of young man.

Price Sapieha, whose family in Poland was only second in standing to the Radziwiłł princes, offered Paul Strzelecki employment as an administrator, or plenipotentiary, on his very large estates, situated on the eastern outskirts of former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In those times only a nobleman could hold such a position. As an administrator Strzelecki displayed great energy and ability.

He restored the estates to a good financial position, but in so doing made himself unpopular among the local officials and nobility. In his last will, Prince Francis, who died in 1829, rewarded his able administrator with considerable estate, worth about one million Polish złotys. Certain members of the late Prince’s staff spread calumnies and insinuations about Strzelecki. For example, Żmichowska claimed that Strzelecki had sold four estates to his friends at half price. Investigation proved that none of the alleged four estates ever existed and could not be found in the very detailed Polish Geographical Register, published in eighteen volumes in 1880. 15)

 In a letter to Adyna Turno of 1 August 1840, written in Launceston, Strzelecki stated: In your letter you mention the Sapieha affair. That is but one example of all that I suffered in Poland. And yet that episode in my life I find flattering to my ego. At least, envy, hatred, jealousy and desire to triumph could never be attributed to me. For what were the facts? That great landowner Francis Sapieha loses his credit. His fortunes greatly diminished; he is surrounded by dishonest and systematic wastage, and everyone works against him. In such circumstances, he entrusts the whole business to me, an obscure individual, without recommendation or references. He gives me a free hand to deal with 12,00 of his peasantry and to clear up the mess.16)

Eustace, son of Prince Frances Sapieha, refused to pay the price for Strzelecki’s work, or recognise his father’s last will. According to L. de Noskowski: ‘When Strzelecki decided to sue the prince, he committed another grave offence in the eyes of the community. Here was a young man, willing to work, and then having the temerity to go to court. The prince filed a suit against Strzelecki. Long before the matter came to a head. Strzelecki was condemned by public opinion. After all, a prince is a prince, and it is a cardinal sin for a comparatively unknown young man to dare to bring a law action against such an illustrious member of the community. The matter was settled out of court, but it greatly embittered Strzelecki’. 17)

 There is no evidence to clarify the whole story except Żmichowska’ doubtful Reminiscences, and again L. de Noskowski expressed his opinion: ‘According to post-war research in Poland, she based her unfavourable criticism on the unconfirmed gossip, rumours and calumnies which had poisoned Strzelecki’s life in Poland. It is merely a reflection of family reminiscences and idle provincial gossip unsubstantiated by documents’. 18)

 As Sapieha’s administrator Strzelecki certainly did nothing improper or dishonest, nor was any misconduct ever proved. Firstly, he would not have had audacity to challenge the young Prince in court without a clear conscience and a belief in justice and righteousness. Secondly, Prince Eustace would not have settled the matter out of court if he had the slightest proof of Strzelecki’s guilt. Thirdly, the old Prince would not have rewarded Strzelecki without good reason. He received from Prince Eustace 12,000 ducats in gold which was about one fourth of the bequest allocated to Strzelecki by the old Prince. 

Unfortunately, there are many gaps in the documentation of Strzelecki’s life and it has been possible to ascertain his movements after his leaving the Sapieha estates. Some Polish biographers claim that Strzelecki took part in the uprising against Russia in 1830-31, but this seems unconvincing following his own statement. He attached to his petition for naturalisation two letters of recommendation, from Lord Russell and Sir George Gipps. In the latter Gipps described him as ‘a Political Exile’, but Strzelecki wrote in his own words: ‘This is an error. Mon-r de Strzelecki in not a Political Exile – he left his native country voluntarily and long before the memorable events of 1830 …’. 19)

 From 1831 till June 1834 Strzelecki lived in England, but little is known about this period of his life except that he travelled to the north of Scotland. During these years he acquired his solid knowledge of geology and agricultural chemistry – most probably due to his own studies and observations, as he never claimed higher education and there are no records of his having attended any university. It is a mystery how he became a member of the exclusive Alfred Club of London.

 In June 1834 Strzelecki took ship at Liverpool for New York. 20)

The full text of Paszkowski’s article, along with footnotes can be found HERE.