Józef Dwernicki

Józef Dwernicki (March 19, 1779 in Warsaw – November 23, 1857 in Lopatyn near Lwów) was a General of Cavalry in the Polish Army, and a participant in the November Uprising (1830–1831).

Dwernicki was born in a noble family of Sas coat of arms, which owned villages in Podolia. His parents were Polish patriots, and at the age of 12, young Józef entered a military school, where he remained until 1795. He then returned to the family property at Zawale in Podolia, where he took care of the farm. In 1806, when during the War of the Fourth Coalition, French armies approached the Vistula river, Dwernicki, together with his friend Augustyn Trzecieski, decided to find the so-called Patriotic Society, which planned an anti-Russian uprising. The insurrection failed, due to the Treaties of Tilsit, signed in July 1807.

In 1809, Dwernicki armed 80 men, crossed the Zbruch river, and joined Polish troops under Piotr Strzyżewski (May 27, 1809, near Tarnopol). He fought in the Polish–Austrian War: his bravery and efforts resulted in promotion to the rank of captain. In 1810, Duke Józef Poniatowski awarded him the Virtuti Militari, and nominated him commander of a squadron in the 15th Uhlan Regiment, formed in Podolia. Dwernicki, together with his uhlans, fought in the French invasion of Russia of 1812. In January 1813, he was promoted to the rank of major, and in March, he once again was awarded the Virtuti Militari. Soon afterwards, he received French Legion of Honour.

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