Tadeusz Kosciuszko was born in the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1746. Unknown to most Americans, he went on to be one of the great heroes of the American Revolution.

General Thaddeus Kosciuszko (1746-1817) is a hero of two nations who fought in the Continental Army for the independence of the United States of America. Kosciuszko served seven years in the service of General George Washington and the American cause, proving instrumental in the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga and was responsible for overseeing the fortification of West Point. Described by Thomas Jefferson as “the purest son of liberty” Kosciuszko was a strong proponent of universal liberty and human rights, who deeded his wartime pay to purchase freedom for American slaves.

Chris DeRose gives us the history of the Kosciuszko Statue.

Tadeusz Kościuszko leaves his native Poland to join the American Revolution. An accomplished military architect, he serves as a Colonel in the Continental Army under Major General Horatio Gates. When General John Burgoyne and his Redcoats force the Americans Read more

After the defeat of the Insurrection, Tadeusz Kosciuszko was in Russian captivity. After taking an oath of allegiance to Tsar Pavel I Romanov, he was released after two years. About 20,000 imprisoned Poles were released with him. Kosciuszko’s oath was the price he had to pay for their freedom. He was fully aware of this. The former Supreme Commander also had to swear that he would not return to the bosom of the Fatherland. So he had to choose forced emigration. A popular destination was France. However, together with his poet friend Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz, he went to America via Finland and England. In 1797, after several months, he returned to Europe, settling in Paris and then in Switzerland. From 1807 to 1814 he lived at Château de Berville near La Genevraye with Peter Josef Zeltner.

It was said that the hero of two nations – Polish and American – was killed by typhoid or pneumonia. Polish scientists have decided to settle the dispute. They have examined Tadeusz Kosciuszko’s heart and are one hundred percent Read more