Wlodzimierz Dzieduszycki

Count Włodzimierz Dzieduszycki (1825-1899) was a Polish noble (szlachcic), landowner, naturalist, political activist, collector and patron of arts.

Włodzimierz became the 1st Ordynat of the Poturzyca estate. He was owner of the Poturzyca, Zarzecze, Kramarzowka, Markpol, Lachowice, Dobraczyn, Medowa, Jaryszow, Konarzewo, Gluszyn, Wiry and Szczytnik estates. He was one of the first Polish magnates to replace serfdom on his estates.

He educated in Poland and since 1840 in Gottingen and Paris. In 1846 Wlodzimierz returned to Poland. During the Spring of Nations in 1848, he became member of the "Council of the Nation of Lwow" (Centralna Rada Narodowa Lwowska). He was also member of the "Economic Society of Galicja". He supported publishing houses, spent money for scientific works and school books. In 1863 he participated in the civil organisation of the January Uprising and spent money for it.

In 1881 Wlodzimierz became member of PAU (Polish Academy of Skills). In 1855 he founded the Dzieduszycki Museum in Lwów. The Museum included a rich natural collection, mainly ornithology, ethnography and numismatic objects and a large collection of books.

He was also co-founder of the Museum of Industry of Arts (Muzeum Przemyslu Artystycznego) in 1874 in Lwów and founder the "Hunting Society of Lesser Poland" in 1885.

Wlodzimierz became member the Sejm in 1865, 1874, and from 1895 until 1899 and served as Sejm Marshal from March 7 until April 26, 1876. He was also member of the Herrenhaus since 1874.

He was author of several scientific works (nature and ethnography), since 1894 Doctor Honoris Causa of the Lwów University.