Zygmunt Padlewski

Born Jan. 1, 1836, in Małe Czerniawcy, near Berdyczów (Berdichev); died May 15, 1863, in Płock. Polish revolutionary democrat.

After graduating from the Artillery Academy in St. Petersburg, Padlewski served as an officer in the Russian Army. He taught at a Polish military school in Italy in 1861 and then, in Paris, became a leader of the revolutionary organization Polish Youth. After J. Dabrowski’s arrest in August 1862, Padlewski was made a member of the Central National Committee, the directing body of the Polish uprising, and was appointed revolutionary commander of Warsaw. On behalf of the Central National Committee, Padlewski conducted negotiations with A. I. Herzen in London in September 1862 and with the Central Committee of Land and Liberty in St. Petersburg in November 1862. The negotiations led to the formation of a Russo-Polish revolutionary alliance. Padlewski advocated an armed uprising. After the outbreak of the Polish uprising of 1863–64, he was appointed military commander of Płock Województwo. Padlewski was captured by punitive forces on April 22 and shortly thereafter executed.