Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Niemcewicz, Julian Ursin, Count

NIEMCEWICZ, Julian Ursin, Count (ne-em-tsay'-vitch), Polish statesman, b. in Skoki, Lithuania, Poland, in 1757; d. in Paris, France, 21 May, 1841. He was of noble birth, entered the Lithuanian army as the adjutant of Prince Czartoryski, and in 1788 was promoted major. Being appointed a deputy to the Polish constitutional diet, he had the principal share in drawing up the constitution of 3 May, 1791, and about the same time became an editor of a popular journal called “Gazeta Narodowa.” After the battle of Maciejowice he was made prisoner with Kosciusko, and confined in the fortress of St. Petersburg, from which they were released on the accession of Paul in 1796. The following year he accompanied Kosciusko to this country. His handsome person, his culture, and his captivating manners at once made him a favorite in society in New York city, where he was the frequent guest of John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and other eminent men. In 1800 he married Mrs. Livingston Kean, the widow of John Kean (q. v.), a delegate from South Carolina to the Continental congress, who died in 1795. Mrs. Kean had purchased Liberty Hall, the country-seat of her uncle, Gov. William Livingston, and after her