Kazimierz Pulaski | Biography & Facts (2024)

Polish patriot and United States army officer

verifiedCite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Select Citation Style

Feedback

Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

  • Casimir Pulaski - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
  • Casimir Pulaski - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Print

verifiedCite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Select Citation Style

Feedback

Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

  • Casimir Pulaski - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
  • Casimir Pulaski - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Also known as: Casimir Pulaski

Written and fact-checked by

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Article History

Pułaski, Kazimierz

See all media

English:
Casimir Pulaski
Born:
March 6, 1745, Warsaw, Poland
Died:
October 11/15, 1779, aboard ship between Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Role In:
American Revolution

See all related content →

Kazimierz Pułaski (born March 6, 1745, Warsaw, Poland—died October 11/15, 1779, aboard ship between Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.) was a Polish patriot and U.S. colonial army officer, hero of the Polish anti-Russian insurrection of 1768 (the Confederation of Bar) and of the American Revolution.

The son of Józef Pułaski (1704–69), one of the originators of the Confederation of Bar, the young Pułaski distinguished himself in the defense of Berdichev (1768) and Częstochowa (1770–71) against the Russians. He also unsuccessfully attempted to kidnap King Stanisław II to the confederates’ camp (October 1771) and was falsely accused of trying to murder the king. After the Prussian and Austrian invasion of Poland in the spring of 1772, Pułaski left Częstochowa for Saxony; he later moved to France and lived in financial straits.

Britannica QuizUnderstanding the American Revolution

In December 1776 in Paris, Pułaski met the American statesman Benjamin Franklin, who recommended him to Gen. George Washington. Pułaski landed in America in June 1777. In Washington’s army he served at Brandywine, was made general and chief of cavalry by Congress, and fought at Germantown and in the winter campaign of 1777–78. The Pułaski Legion, a mixed corps of cavalry and infantry that he formed in 1778, exploited his experience in guerrilla warfare. In May 1779 he defended Charleston. Wounded at Savannah on October 9, 1779, he died aboard the Wasp.

The date of his death and the location of his body are disputed. His aide-de-camp testified that he died on October 11 and that his body was buried at sea. Another account—discovered in a letter written by the captain of the Wasp and corroborated by a statement by the widow of the man who built Pułaski’s coffin—puts his death on October 15, aboard the ship at anchor in a river several miles from Savannah. According to that account, his corpse was brought ashore and buried at a nearby plantation. A descendant of the plantation’s owner is said to have exhumed the remains in 1852 and reinterred them beneath a monument to Pulaski in Savannah in 1853. Though DNA analysis conducted in the 1990s following a further disinterment was inconclusive, the skeleton is consistent with Pulaski’s age and occupation. A comparison of the skull to portraits of Pulaski further suggests that the remains are his. A small tumour on his face, noticeable in several paintings, lines up with apparent bone scarring on the cheek of the skull. Further investigation in the 2010s—including reanalysis of data and new DNA lab work—led researchers to conclude that Pulaski was likely intersex. Their findings indicated that, while Pulaski identified as a man, in terms of biology he did not conform to binary definitions of male or female.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Kazimierz Pulaski | Biography & Facts (2024)

FAQs

Kazimierz Pulaski | Biography & Facts? ›

Kazimierz Pułaski (born March 6, 1745, Warsaw, Poland—died October 11/15, 1779, aboard ship between Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.) was a Polish patriot and U.S. colonial army officer, hero of the Polish anti-Russian insurrection of 1768 (the Confederation of Bar

Confederation of Bar
The Bar Confederation (Polish: Konfederacja barska; 1768–1772) was an association of Polish–Lithuanian nobles (szlachta) formed at the fortress of Bar in Podolia (now Ukraine), in 1768 to defend the internal and external independence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth against Russian political influence and against ...
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Bar_Confederation
) and of the American Revolution ...

What are some important facts about Casimir Pulaski? ›

Pulaski became a general in the Continental Army, and he and his friend, Michael Kovats, created the Pulaski Cavalry Legion and reformed the American cavalry as a whole. At the siege of Savannah, while leading a cavalry charge against British forces, he was fatally wounded by grapeshot and died shortly after.

Did Pulaski save George Washington's life? ›

On September 11, 1777, Casimir Pulaski rode into battle with the Continental Army, led a skillful counterattack to slow the British advance, and helped save George Washington's life.

What did Casimir Pulaski do to help the Americans? ›

One of the United States' first cavalry commanders, Pulaski brought organization and proper training to the Continentals, securing the titles of “The Father of American Cavalry” and “Soldier of Liberty.” Pulaski was born in Poland in 1745.

Why is Casimir Pulaski important to Chicago? ›

Chicago is known for its large population of Polish immigrants who came to the United States during the 19th century. One of the city's main arteries, Pulaski Road, is named after him. On Feb. 26, 1986, Mayor Harold Washington introduced a resolution to designate the first Monday in March as “Casimir Pulaski Day.”

What is the historical significance of Pulaski? ›

Pulaski fought the Russians in his native Poland from 1770 to 1772. He later fought with General George Washington at Brandywine during the Revolutionary War from 1777-1778. After this battle, Washington made him a Brigadier General for gallantry in commanding cavalry troops.

Where is Pulaski buried? ›

Debate has long swirled around the location of Pulaski's burial, with some historians asserting that he was buried at sea. In 1853, remains thought to be his were discovered and moved to Monterey Square in Savannah, with a 55-foot-tall marble monument to his memory built there the following year.

What war did Pulaski fought in? ›

Casimir Pulaski (1745-1779), a Polish soldier and commander, was recruited for the American Revolution, where he made his mark as a cavalry officer and came to be known as "The Father of American Cavalry." Pulaski was mortally wounded in battle at Savannah, Georgia.

How many people did Ed Pulaski save? ›

On August 20, 1910, Pulaski was credited with saving all but five of his 45-man crew during what is known as the "Great Idaho Fire," the "Great Fire of 1910" or the "Big Blowup." It had been unusually dry in 1910 and forest fires were rampant across the northern Rockies.

Why do we celebrate Pulaski Day? ›

Both the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago will observe Casimir Pulaski Day on Monday in commemoration of the Polish war hero who died in pursuit of America's freedom. Born in 1747, Pulaski fought for Poland's freedom from Russia until 1771, when he was exiled to France, according to the Library of Congress.

What was Casimir Pulaski's nickname? ›

Nicknamed “The Father of American Cavalry” and “Soldier of Liberty,” Casimir Pulaski is widely recognized for bringing order to the American cavalry, using modern training methods and establishing the necessity of an independent cavalry during the Revolutionary War, all of which remained essential to the U.S. Army into ...

Who was Casimir Pulaski for kids? ›

Pulaski was born to a noble family on March 6, 1745, in Winiary, Poland. He was a hero in the Polish anti-Russian insurrection of 1768, and he distinguished himself defending his country. In 1772 he was falsely accused of plotting to kill the king and was eventually forced to flee to France.

What states celebrate Casimir Pulaski? ›

Some areas with large Polish-American populations instead celebrate Casimir Pulaski Day on the first Monday of every March, marking Pulaski's March 4, 1746 birth. Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana have state recognition of this holiday, which is particularly popular in Chicago and Milwaukee.

What are some fun facts about Pulaski? ›

Pulaski earned the nicknames 'Soldier of Liberty' and 'Father of American Cavalry' during his short time fighting in the Revolutionary War. Pulaski's crew was sent to the south to fight against the British. He was severely wounded in October 1779 in Savannah, Georgia, and died days later.

How did Pulaski save George Washington? ›

With no time to argue, Washington entrusted Pulaski with his own mounted guard, about thirty in number, and watched as the Polish volunteer led his band directly into the fray, delaying the British long enough for the Continentals to retreat and possibly saving Washington's life.

Who did Casimir Pulaski meet in Paris? ›

Pulaski met Benjamin Franklin in Paris in 1776, where the Polish military veteran offered his services to the American Revolution.

What did Casimir Pulaski do before the war? ›

Before he came to the United States, Pulaski was a military leader in his native Poland. He was born March 6, 1745, in Warka (though some sources say 1747). Pulaski became a general who tried to “liberate his country from Russian invaders,” according to George Otto of the Polish American Congress.

Who is Casimir Pulaski for kids? ›

Pulaski was born to a noble family on March 6, 1745, in Winiary, Poland. He was a hero in the Polish anti-Russian insurrection of 1768, and he distinguished himself defending his country. In 1772 he was falsely accused of plotting to kill the king and was eventually forced to flee to France.

What is the history of Mount Pulaski? ›

Mount Pulaski was founded in 1836 and like most cities in Logan County, Mount Pulaski was no stranger to Abraham Lincoln. It was the county seat for Logan County from 1848-1855, during this time Abraham Lincoln was a traveling circuit lawyer on the 8th Judicial Circuit.

Top Articles
John Wick: Chapter 4 720P
Anti-aging Cream Stores in Overland Park
Public Opinion Obituaries Chambersburg Pa
Po Box 7250 Sioux Falls Sd
T Mobile Rival Crossword Clue
Readyset Ochsner.org
Costco The Dalles Or
Words From Cactusi
Jesse Mckinzie Auctioneer
Sinai Web Scheduler
Best Cav Commanders Rok
Max 80 Orl
Sotyktu Pronounce
Caroline Cps.powerschool.com
Turbocharged Cars
Es.cvs.com/Otchs/Devoted
How to Store Boiled Sweets
Craigslist Deming
Fear And Hunger 2 Irrational Obelisk
Eka Vore Portal
What is Rumba and How to Dance the Rumba Basic — Duet Dance Studio Chicago | Ballroom Dance in Chicago
Voy Boards Miss America
Chaos Space Marines Codex 9Th Edition Pdf
Jail View Sumter
Integer Division Matlab
Netwerk van %naam%, analyse van %nb_relaties% relaties
Dei Ebill
Milwaukee Nickname Crossword Clue
27 Modern Dining Room Ideas You'll Want to Try ASAP
Dal Tadka Recipe - Punjabi Dhaba Style
Jesus Calling Feb 13
Stephanie Bowe Downey Ca
Log in to your MyChart account
Productos para el Cuidado del Cabello Después de un Alisado: Tips y Consejos
NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-37 Rev. 2 (Withdrawn), Risk Management Framework for Information Systems and Organizations: A System Life Cycle Approach for Security and Privacy
Bratislava | Location, Map, History, Culture, & Facts
Aliciabibs
Second Chance Apartments, 2nd Chance Apartments Locators for Bad Credit
Invalleerkracht [Gratis] voorbeelden van sollicitatiebrieven & expert tips
Worcester County Circuit Court
How to Quickly Detect GI Stasis in Rabbits (and what to do about it) | The Bunny Lady
Parent Portal Pat Med
Silicone Spray Advance Auto
Denise Monello Obituary
Ehc Workspace Login
Dlnet Deltanet
Tito Jackson, member of beloved pop group the Jackson 5, dies at 70
Craigslist Sarasota Free Stuff
Pelican Denville Nj
Cvs Minute Clinic Women's Services
Joe Bartosik Ms
Texas Lottery Daily 4 Winning Numbers
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Pres. Carey Rath

Last Updated:

Views: 5907

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Carey Rath

Birthday: 1997-03-06

Address: 14955 Ledner Trail, East Rodrickfort, NE 85127-8369

Phone: +18682428114917

Job: National Technology Representative

Hobby: Sand art, Drama, Web surfing, Cycling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Leather crafting, Creative writing

Introduction: My name is Pres. Carey Rath, I am a faithful, funny, vast, joyous, lively, brave, glamorous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.