Erazm Józef Jerzmanowski h. Dołęga (2 June 1844 – 7 February 1909) was an industrialist, philanthropist and patron of art, soldier, who took part in the

January Uprising The January Uprising ( pl, powstanie styczniowe; lt, 1863 metų sukilimas; ua, Січневе повстання; russian: Польское восстание; ) was an insurrection principally in Russia's Kingdom of Poland that was aimed at ...

of 1863-1865.

Biography

Born to Franciszek Jerzmanowski and Apolonia Kamila Kosowska, Erazm graduated from high school in Warsaw in 1862, and then began education at Polytechnic Institute in Puławy. With other students he joined the

in 1863. He fought under commands of general Marian Langiewicz. After the uprising failed, he was interned in the castle of Olomouc in

Galicia Galicia may refer to: Geographic regions * Galicia (Spain), a region and autonomous community of northwestern Spain ** Gallaecia, a Roman province ** The post-Roman Kingdom of the Suebi, also called the Kingdom of Gallaecia ** The medieval King ...

. Jerzmanowski was set free and forced to go abroad. He went to Paris for emigration in 1864 and studied at the Polish School in Montparnasse. Later he moved to Metz to study at the School of Engineering and Artillery. In 1870 he participated in the Franco-Prussian War as an officer of the French Army. After the war he began working as an engineer. In 1873, a French company, which had been exploiting lighting-gas in America, sent him to the United States. Shortly after going to the USA Jerzmanowski married Anna Koester. In 1879, he became a United States citizen. He worked on production of the calcium carbide, in the meantime patenting 17 inventions in the field of mining and investing money. In 1882 he was a co-founder of Equitable Gas Light Company in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, as a vice-chairman and later chairman he led this company for 13 years. He was a founder of gas companies in Chicago and

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was d ...

and owned gas factories in

Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...

. His fortune grew fast, he became the richest Polish in the United States and one of the richest Americans. Being one of the most influential directors in gas industry he has been supporting financially other people of American Polonia. In 1889 pope Leo XIII decorated him with Knight Commander of

Order of St. Sylvester Pontifical Equestrian Order of Saint Sylvester Pope and Martyr ( la, Ordo Sancti Silvestri Papae, it, Ordine di San Silvestro Papa), sometimes referred to as the Sylvestrine Order, or the Pontifical Order of Pope Saint Sylvester, is one of five o ...

. In 1896 Jerzmanowski bought a palace in Galicia and settled in Prokocim, near Kraków, where he died in 1909.

Legacy

The palace that Jerzmanowski bought in 1896, currently better known as the Jerzmanowscy Palace, is located in Prokocim. The surrounding park – Anna and Erazm Jerzmanowski Park – was named after its owners.

Jerzmanowscy Award

In his last will, Jerzmanowski presented all his wealth to Academy of Learning in Kraków. He ordered the Academy to establish the foundation and the award named after him and his wife. People distinguished with Jerzmanowscy Award had to be Polish Roman Catholics who had served Poland with their artistic, scientific or social activities. Payments are made from Jerzmanowski's funds.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jerzmanowski, Erazm American businesspeople Polish businesspeople Polish philanthropists January Uprising participants French military personnel of the Franco-Prussian War Knights of the Order of St. Sylvester Burials at Rakowicki Cemetery 1844 births 1909 deaths American people of Polish descent 19th-century American philanthropists