Szymon Konarski

Szymon Konarski (1808 – 39) was a 19th-century Polish radical democratic politician and revolutionary. As a politician, he supported the radical idea of social and economic equality for all men, as well as the right of political and national liberty and self-governance.

Konarski supported the idea of land reform in the form of parceling out aristocratic estates among the poor peasants, and opposed the clergy. An ardent revolutionary, he believed in a revolution by all peoples of the Russian Empire, which would bring freedom and democracy to all.

Szymon Konarski was born 5 March 1808 in the village of Dobkiszki near Sejny. His father, Jerzy Stefan Konarski, was a colonel in the Polish Army and a veteran of the War in Defense of the Constitution and the Kościuszko Uprising. Upon retirement, he retreated to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, where he became a judge. Konarski's mother, Paulina née Wiszniewska was also active in the struggle for independence for the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and took part in the Lithuanian Highest National Council (RNNL). At the age of 9 Szymon joined a local Calvinist school in Sejny and then a trade school in Łomża.

Upon graduating, on March 22, 1826 he joined the army of the Kingdom of Poland. Serving in the foot rifle regiment, Konarski quickly advanced through its ranks and the following year he rose from the rank of Private to NCO. During the November Uprising against Imperial Russia Konarski's regiment took part in some of the fiercest battles of the war, including those of Okuniew, Wawer, Grochów and Liw. Promoted to the rank of podporucznik (2nd Lieutenant), Konarski also took part in Gen. Dezydery Chłapowski's raid into Lithuania, which resulted in his internment in East Prussia.

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