Franciszek Maksymilian Ossoliński

Who was Franciszek Maksymilian Ossoliński?

Count Franciszek Maksymilian Ossoliński was a Polish noble, politician, collector and patron of arts.

Son of Łowczy and Chorąży Maksymilian Ossoliński and Teodora Krassowska. He was married in 1706 to Katarzyna Miączyńska and in 1732 in Lwów, married Katarzyna Jabłonowska, the daughter of Grand Chancellor Stanisław Jan Jabłonowski.

He was Chorąży of Drohiczyn from 1703 to 1710, Court Treasurer in 1713, Grand Treasurer of the Crown from 1729 to 1736, Wielkorządca of Kraków, Żupnik of salt-pits in Bochnia and Wieliczka in 1727.

Starost of Sandomierz, Nursk, Ostrów, Drohiczyn, Chmielnik and Niepołomice.

His political and military career began at the end of the 17th century under patronage of Stanisław Szczuka. He was private secretary to August II and one of his closest co-workers. He was a strong supporter of giving more power to the King. His policy as Grand Treasurer, induced an increase in income from customs duties.

He was a frequent deputy to the Sejm from 1718. As Sejm Marshal of the ordinary Sejm in Warsaw, May 5 November 16, 1722, he warned that broken sessions of the Sejm, could lead to the downfall and the end of the Republic.