Bolesław Masłowski

Bolesław Masłowski
Born1851
Died20 June 1928(1928-06-20) (aged 76–77)
NationalityPolish
Alma materHeidelberg University
Occupation(s)Inventor, engineer
Known forInventions in pigment chemistry and dyeing techniques in the textile industry
SpouseFelicja Masłowski
Parent(s)Rajmund Masłowski (1825–1897), Waleria Józefa Danilewicz (1828–1881)

Bolesław Masłowski (1851 – 20 June 1928) was a Polish chemist. He contributed to the dyeing industry.

Biography

Bolesław Masłowski birth certificate, Włodawa, 1851

Family

Bolesław Masłowski was born in 1851 in Włodawa, Poland to Rajmund Masłowski (1825–1897), a lawyer, and Waleria Józefa of Danilewicz (1827–1881[1]). His baptism certificate is stored in the parish archives of St. Louis of Pauline Fathers in Włodawa.[2]

Born into an impoverished noble family, he had a few notable relatives, including his brother and his maternal grandfather. His brother Stanisław Masłowski was a Polish painter who lived from 1853 to 1926. His grandfather, Wincenty Danilewicz (Ostoja coat of arms, born in 1787 in Mińsk Lit, a former Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth territory), was enlisted as a light-cavalryman for active duty in the Napoleonic campaign, for which he was awarded the French Order of Legion of Honour.

His family originally came from Wieluń, Poland.[3] They used the nickname "Watta of Ruda" (Polish: "Z Rudy"). (Ruda was the first capital of Wieluń County.[4])

Early years

In 1856, Masłowski and his family moved from Włodawa to Garwolin, and then to Chęciny shortly thereafter in 1858.

According to records, in 1864 he was arrested and dispatched on unknown charges, then sentenced approximately six months at Kielce prison.

In 1865, the Masłowski family established residence in Kalisz.

Education

After graduating from a local high school in Kalisz, Masłowski began a two-year study of pharmacy in Warsaw, where his parents had relocated in 1871.

It is unknown what became of his academic efforts in Warsaw. He continued his studies at Heidelberg University. There, he frequently attended the lectures of Professor Robert Bunsen.[5]

Masłowski's studies were interrupted in 1877 by the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). A subject to the Russian Empire, Masłowski was drafted into the Imperial Russian Army and put into the sanitary service. Fortunately, he was able to continue his education after the war ended. Once he left the army, he picked up his studies at Mulhouse, Alsace. During his time there, he learnt from the great Professor E. Noelting. Masłowski graduated in 1881 with a degree in dye (pigment) chemistry, as a specialization.[6]

Career

Masłowski's career began when he took a job as a laborer in a dye Joint-Stock Company "Zawiercie" (Silesia). During the two initial months of internship, he received high praise from superiors for his achievements. As a result, he quickly became a collaborator of E. Lauter, who was an outstanding specialist in the field of dyeing techniques.

Within three months, he was hired as manager of calico printing. Three years later, he was promoted to company manager, with 6000 employees under his supervision. Masłowski held this position until 1891 after which he moved to Germany. There, five years later, he published in Farber Zeitung an article on alkaline methods of removing Turkish red dye.

In 1904, Masłowski began working at a textile plant in Konice on Moravia (then in Austria-Hungary, from 1918 Czechoslovakia). He remained there as a managing director until his death on 20 June 1928 in Konice, leaving his children with his wife Felice.[7][8]

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ Died 21 Aug. 1881 - Warsaw, age 54 - see: https://www.sejm-wielki.pl/b/psb.17222.3 (acc.: 7 Feb. 2024)
  2. ^ Register of baptismal certificates, St. Pauline Parish, Włodawa. (in Polish)
  3. ^ See: Kazimierz Sarnecki: Polish Biographical Dictionary, WrocławWarsawKrakówGdańsk 1975 (ed. Polish Academy of SciencesOssolineum), v.XX/1 p. 124.
  4. ^ See (in Polish): http://literat.ug.edu.pl/glogre/0019.htm
  5. ^ Kazimierz Sarnecki: Polish Biographical Dictionary, op.cit.
  6. ^ Kazimierz Sarnecki: Polish Biographical Dictionary, op.cit.
  7. ^ M. Maslowski [ed.]: Stanisław Masłowski – Resources for study of life and work, National Ossoliński's Institute), Wrocław 1957
  8. ^ Kazimierz Sarnecki: Polish Biographical Dictionary, op.cit.