29 Facts About Gabriel Narutowicz

Gabriel Narutowicz previously served as the minister of public works from 1920 to 1922 and briefly as the minister of foreign affairs in 1922.

Gabriel Narutowicz directed the construction of the first European hydroelectric power plants in Monthey, Muhleberg and Andelsbuch.

Gabriel Narutowicz's funeral, attended by almost 500,000 people, was simultaneously a manifestation of peace which diminished the power of the far-right movement in the upcoming years.

Gabriel Narutowicz was a non-practicing Catholic and an active Freemason; he participated in rituals throughout the whole country.

Gabriel Narutowicz was a signatory of the Act of Independence of Lithuania of 16 February 1918.

Gabriel Narutowicz finished his secondary education at the Liepaja Gymnasium, Latvia.

Gabriel Narutowicz then enrolled at the Saint Petersburg Imperial University, in the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics.

Gabriel Narutowicz helped exiled Poles on the run from the Russian authorities during his time in Switzerland.

Gabriel Narutowicz was connected with a Polish emigre socialist party, "Proletariat".

In 1895 Gabriel Narutowicz became a Swiss citizen and, after completing his studies, he was employed as an engineer during the construction of the St Gallen railway.

Gabriel Narutowicz proved to be an outstanding engineering expert and, in 1895, became chief of works on the River Rhine.

Gabriel Narutowicz's works were exhibited at the International Exhibition in Paris, and he would become a famous pioneer of electrification in Switzerland.

Gabriel Narutowicz directed the construction of many other European hydroelectric power plants, such as in Monthey, Muhleberg, and Andelsbuch.

Gabriel Narutowicz was dean of that institute from 1913 to 1919.

Gabriel Narutowicz was a member of the Swiss Committee for Water Economy.

Gabriel Narutowicz held that post until 26 June 1922.

Gabriel Narutowicz traveled around the country often to personally supervise and direct public works.

Gabriel Narutowicz was a member of the government in every subsequent cabinet.

Gabriel Narutowicz held that post in the later government of Julian Ignacy Nowak.

Gabriel Narutowicz himself was a candidate of the Public Union on Eastern Borderlands but did not gain a seat in Parliament.

Gabriel Narutowicz prevailed thanks to the votes of the left, of the representatives for national minorities vote, and of the centrist Polish People's Party "Piast".

Gabriel Narutowicz's victory came as an extremely unpleasant surprise to various leading right-wingers.

Gabriel Narutowicz served as president of Poland for a mere five days.

Gabriel Narutowicz was never comfortable with the widespread belief that he was a representative of the Left in Polish politics.

Gabriel Narutowicz had only become the candidate of the Polish Peasant Party "Wyzwolenie" by happenstance; he had not expected to win the election.

Gabriel Narutowicz realized that it would be impossible to form a majority government in the Parliament, so he made an attempt to create a government beyond the purview of parliament.

Only five days after taking office, on 16 December 1922, Gabriel Narutowicz was shot dead while attending an art exhibit in the Zacheta National Gallery of Art.

Gabriel Narutowicz was buried with honors on 22 December 1922 in the vault of St John's Cathedral in Warsaw.

The murder of Gabriel Narutowicz was the main theme of the 1977 Polish feature film Death of a President, directed by Jerzy Kawalerowicz.