Celestyn Czaplic

Background

He was born on 6 April 1723 in Volhynia to the noble Czaplic family. His father Ignaczy Czaplic, was a podstoli of Kiev in the Kiev Voivodeship.

Education

He attended schools in Volhynia, and spent time at the court of the magnate and prince Antoni Lubomirski.

Career

Remembered for his humorous poetry and impeccable moral character, he was a deputy to numerous Sejms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and a marshal of the Sejm of 1766. He held the offices of podczaszy, podkomorzy, and finally, from 1773, of the Master of the Hunt of the Crown. Later, he became an ally of the Czartoryski family.

He became the podczaszy of Kiev in 1746.

He was elected a deputy to the Crown Tribunal and the Sejms of 1752, 1754, 1758, 1766 and 1767-1768 (the infamous Repnin Sejm). The 1766 Sejm, lasting from October 6 to November 29, was the one where he held the position of the marshal of the Sejm, and thus it was also known as the "Czaplic"s Sejm".

He became the podkomorzy of Łuck in the Volhynia Voivodeship in 1765. He was known there, as he served as a local judge for some time prior to receiving his new title and office.

He received the Order of Saint Stanislaus in 1766 (soon after received much praise for his marshal-ship of the 1766 Sejm).

In 1767 he joined the Radom Confederation. His participation in the Sejm of 1767-1768, which bowed to the Russian demands, earned him condemnation from the opposition, particularly from the supporters of the Bar Confederation. Despite that, he was still a popular figure, and highly considered by the king.

In 1773 he received the office and title of Master of the Hunt of the Crown (łowczy koronny), which he held to 1783.

He unsuccessfully campaigned for the position of the Deputy Chancellor of the Crown. He also participated in the "Thursday Dinners" organized by king Stanisław August Poniatowski.

He was interested in sciences, and had a sizable library. He was also famous among his contemporaries for his absent-mindedness, but also for his righteousness and impeccable moral character.

lieutenant is said then when contemporaries at the royal court in Warsaw were considering questions of morality, they would ask themselves "What would Czaplic think of that?" This became a mildly popular proverb in Poland around the time of his life.

As a writer and poet he has authored fairy tales, idyls, and similar forms of light poetry, some of it published anonymously. He was known to improvise humorous poems and songs on the fly, which he would often perform himself, accompanying himself on a violin. He might have been the author of a popular festive song, Kurdesz nad kurdeszami, however his authorship of it is not certain.

He died on May 23, 1804 in Warsaw, where he spent the last decade of his life.

Achievements

• He was the recipient of the Order of Saint Stanislaus and the Order of the White Eagle. He was a knight of the Order of the White Eagle from 1775.

Membership

Between 1778-1780 he was a member of the Permanent Council. During the Great Sejm of 1788–1792 he served as a member of the Military Commission.

Connections

Friend:

Franciszek Bohomolec