Ignacy Jan Paderewski

Ignacy Paderewski was born in 1860 in the Russian occupied part of Poland. At a young age his father was imprisoned for his role in the January 1863 Uprising. Ignacy grew up to become an internationally acclaimed virtuoso concert pianist and composer who always had an unwavering love for Poland and its culture.
Paderewski was sent to America in early 1915 by the Polish National Committee in Paris as a political activist. His mission was to inform the Americans of Poland’s rich heritage and culture and to convince the government to sanction the training of a Polish army on American soil for service in the war. Ignacy visited towns and cities where he would ask for funds and volunteers for the proposed Polish army. The reaction to his pleas for recruits was especially enthusiastic among the members of the numerous Falcons organizations. Ignacy forged many friendships with high ranking members of the President’s staff who in turn became sympathetic to his cause.
Ignacy came to Camp Kosciuszko on two occasions, the first was in November of 1917 and again in June of 1918 to review the troops. Paderewski was chosen as the representative of Poland at the Versailles Peace Conference and was chosen as Poland’s first Prime Minister and Minister of International Affairs. He signed the Treaty of Versailles, which formally saw Poland become an independent and sovereign nation.