Stanisław Ostrowski

Who was Stanisław Ostrowski?

Stanisław Ostrowski was a Polish politician, best known for serving as the last polish Mayor of Lwow and third President of Poland in exile.

Ostrowski was born in Lemberg. His father, Michał Ostrowski, had earlier fought in the January Uprising of 1863. Stanisław Ostrowski studied medicine at Lwow University. During the Polish-Ukrainian War and the Polish-Bolshevik War Ostrowski participated as a physician with the Polish Army. Following these conflicts he became Vice Mayor, and later Mayor of Lwow. He was also a three-term member of the Sejm from the BBWR Bloc. As a legislator he focused on health affairs as well as developing a reputation of being a defender of minorities' rights.

After the Soviet invasion of Poland, he was arrested and imprisoned in Moscow. Among his fellow prisoners was Anandyn Amar, former Prime Minister and President of Mongolia. He was released from Soviet captivity as an officer of the Polish Army in the East by efforts of in 1942.

He fought against the Germans in Italy. When World War II ended, he moved to England and became involved in the politics of the Polish community there, which included the Polish government in exile.