Maksymilian Nowicki

Maksymilian Nowicki

Maksymilian Siła-Nowicki (9 October 1826 – 30 October 1890) was a Polish zoology professor and pioneer conservationist in Austrian Poland, and father of the poet Franciszek Nowicki. He was brother-in-law to Kraków University law professor and rector Franciszek Kasparek.

Career

Nowicki began his career as a teacher in the countryside of eastern Galicia, and by dint of ambition and self-education eventually became a professor of zoology at Kraków University (1863-90).[1] In 1873, he was inducted into the Kraków-based Academy of Learning. Also in 1873, he co-founded the Tatras Society (Towarzystwo Tatrzańskie). In 1879, he founded the National Fishing Society (Krajowe Towarzystwo Rybackie).[2] His greatest academic achievements were in entomology, ichthyology and ornithology.[3]

Nowicki sought to give a practical bent to his research. He wrote: "In the interest of husbandry in this country, it is appropriate to develop a knowledge of animals that are harmful to husbandry... and of animals that are useful to [it]." It was chiefly thanks to him that the Galician Sejm in 1868 passed a law protecting chamois, marmots and Alpine birds in the Tatra Mountains.[4]

Nowicki was the initiator of, and driving force behind, the Physiographic Commission (Komisja Fizjograficzna) of the Academy of Learning, and was a member of many other learned societies.[5]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Siła-Nowicki, Maksymilian," Encyklopedia Polski, p. 615.
  2. ↑ "Nowicki-Siła, Maksymilian," Encyklopedia powszechna PWN, vol. 3, p. 312.
  3. ↑ "Siła-Nowicki, Maksymilian," Encyklopedia Polski, p. 615.
  4. ↑ "Siła-Nowicki, Maksymilian," Encyklopedia Polski, pp. 615-16.
  5. ↑ "Siła-Nowicki, Maksymilian," Encyklopedia Polski, p. 616.

References

External links

Polish Ethological Society article, in Polish, giving extensive details of Maksymilian Nowicki's adventurous, inspiring life.

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