Jan Maria Włodzimierz Ciechanowski (15 May 1887 – 16 April 1973) was an economist and diplomat. He was the envoy of Poland to the United States from 1925 to 1929, and later the ambassador of Poland (Polish government-in-exile) to the United States from 1940 to 1945. From 1939 to 1940 he was the secretary-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland.[1]
Jan Ciechanowski | |
|---|---|
 Jan Ciechanowski in 1925 | |
| Ambassador of Poland to the United States | |
| In office 16 December 1940 – 5 July 1945 | |
| Preceded by | Jerzy Potocki |
| Succeeded by |
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| Envoy of Poland to the United States | |
| In office 12 October 1925 – 20 February 1929 | |
| Preceded by | Władysław Wróblewski |
| Succeeded by | Tytus Filipowicz |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 May 1887 Grodziec, Congress Poland, Russian Empire (now part of Będzin, Poland) |
| Died | 16 April 1973 (aged 85) Washington, D.C., United States |
| Political party | League of Polish Independence |
| Parents |
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| Occupation |
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Biography
editJan Maria Włodzimierz Ciechanowski was born on 15 May 1887 in Grodziec, Congress Poland, Russian Empire (now part of Będzin, Poland). He was the son of Stanisław Ciechanowski (1845–1927) and Maria Garbińska (1863–1953), and an older brother of Stanisław Ciechanowski (1913–1992). He came from the minor noble family of Ciechanowski, which was of Jewish descent. His father was a businessperson, and owner of several mines and factories in Grodziec. From 1911 to 1917, Jan Ciechanowski was the administration manager of his father's operations.[1]
From 1919 to 1925 he was a legation counselor at the embassy of Poland in London, England.[1] From 12 October 1925 to 20 February 1929, he was the envoy of Poland to the United States.[1][2] In 1928, he and Frank B. Kellogg, United States Secretary of State signed treaties of conciliation and international arbitration between Poland and the United States.[3][4]
From 1939 to 1940, during the Second World War he was the secretary-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland.[1] From 16 December 1940 to 5 July 1945 he was the ambassador of Poland (Polish government-in-exile) to the United States.[1][2] On 1 January 1942, he signed the Declaration by United Nations as the representative of Poland. From 1 November to 7 December 1944, he led a Polish delegation to the convention of the International Civil Aviation Organization held in Chicago, Illinois, United States, which led to the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation on 7 December 1944.[1]
Following the end of the Second World War and end of his service as the ambassador, he decided to stay permanently in the United States.[1] He became a member of the League of Polish Independence, a political party and organization formed in 1944, which advocated for the independence of Poland from outside powers, mainly the Soviet Union.[5]
Ciechanowski died on 16 April 1973 in Washington, D.C., United States.[6][7]
Works
edit- 1947: Defeat in Victory (Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Co.)
Orders and decorations
edit- Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h Józef Łaptos: Dyplomaci II RP w świetle raportów QUAI D'ORSAY. Warsaw, 1993. (in Polish)
- ^ a b Stosunki dyplomatyczne Polski. Informator. Ameryka Północna i Południowa 1918–2007. Warsaw: Askon, 2007. p. 160–161. (in Polish)
- ^ "Traktat Koncyljacyjny między Rzecząpospolitą Polską a Stanami Zjednoczonemi Ameryki, podpisany w Waszyngtonie dnia 16 sierpnia 1928 r." isap.sejm.gov.pl (in Polish).
- ^ "Traktat Arbitrażowy między Rzecząpospolitą Polską a Stanami Zjednoczonemi Ameryki, podpisany w Waszyngtonie dnia 16 sierpnia 1928 r." (in Polish).
- ^ Jan Józef Kasprzyk: Liga Niepodległości Polski. In: Encyklopedia Białych Plam, vol. 11. Radom, 2003, p. 142. (in Polish)
- ^ "Jan Ciechanowski Dead At 85; Wartime Polish Envoy to U.S." The New York Times. 17 April 1973. p. 50.
Jan Ciechanowski, Polish Ambassador to the United States from 1941 to 1945, died yesterday at his home.
- ^ "Jan Ciechanowski, 85, Ambassador". Tampa Bay Times. 19 April 1973. p. 17B.
- ^ Order Odrodzenia Polski. Trzechlecie pierwszej kapituły 1921–1924. Warsaw: Presidium of the Council of Ministers, 1926, p. 17. (in Polish)