Count Xavier Branicki (in Polish: Franciszek Ksawery Branicki, in French: François Xavier Branicki; 26 October 1816 – 20 November 1879) was a Polish nobleman, political exile, and landowner who took French nationality. He became a political writer, financier, art collector, and philanthropist. He was the owner and restorer of the Château de Montrésor and estate in France. He was descended from a powerful magnate family with immense land holdings in the Duchy of Lithuania and in Ukraine, partly as a result, it is said, of a family connection with Catherine the Great. He was a member of the close circle of Napoleon III. He was a co-founder of the Crédit Foncier de France, a bank that continues to this day.[1]

Count Xavier Branicki
Franciszek Ksawery Branicki
Le comte François Xavier Branicki
Born
Franciszek Ksawery Branicki

(1816-10-26)26 October 1816
Died20 November 1879(1879-11-20) (aged 63)
Resting placeMontrésor
NationalityPolish, French
Occupation(s)Financier, Political writer
Era19th century
Known forCrédit Foncier de France, Philanthropy, Montrésor
SpousePelagia Zamoyska
ChildrenAugustin Branicki, illegitimate but acknowledged
Parent(s)Wladyslaw Grzegorz Branicki, Róża Potocka
AwardsChevalier of the Legion of Honor

Publications

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Branicki was the author of the following works:

  • Libération de la France par un impôt sur le capital. Paris: E. Dentu. 1871. p. 31..
  • L'impôt sur le capital, libérateur de la contribution de guerre – Moyens pratiques de l'appliquer. Paris: E. Dentu. 1871. p. 32..
  • La politique du passé et la politique de l'avenir, esquisse d'une constitution. Paris: E. Dentu. 1876. p. 130..
  • Les nationalités slaves : lettres au R. P. Gagarin. Paris: E. Dentu. 1879. p. 408. Slav..
 
Interior of the Château de Montrésor, Branicki's decades-long restoration project

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Henryk Mościcki: Branicka Aleksandra, in: Polski Słownik Biograficzny. vol. 2: Beyzym Jan – Brownsford Marja. Kraków: Polska Akademia Umiejętności – Skład Główny w Księgarniach Gebethnera i Wolffa, 1936, pp. 393–396. Reprint: Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich, Kraków 1989, ISBN 8304032910
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