Leon Piniński

Who was Leon Piniński?

Leon Piniński was a Polish scientist, diplomat, art historian and politician. A professor of Roman law and one-time rector of the Lwów University, he devoted most of his life to political career in his hometown of Lwów, initially in Austria-Hungary and then in Poland.

Leon Piniński was born in Lwów, then in Austro-Hungarian Galicia. An heir to Piniński aristocratic family, he was also the owner of the Grzymałów manor. After receiving basic education at home, he passed his matura exam at the renowned college of Tarnopol. He then graduated from the Faculty of Law of the Lwów University. Piniński also continued his studies in Leipzig, Berlin and Vienna. In 1891 he became a professor of Roman law at his alma mater and soon afterwards he was admitted to the Polish Academy of Skills.

However, soon afterwards he gave up his scientific career and devoted himself to local politics. A member of the Podolacy aristocratic faction, he soon became one of the most popular conservative politicians of Lwów. In 1889 he was elected to the Imperial Council in Vienna. In addition to that, in 1894 he was also elected to the Galician Sejm.