FAMOUS PEOPLE OF GDANSK REALIZED BY: MICHAŁ KAŁDOŃSKI AND MATEUSZ WALCZAK FROM CLASS 2AL

Johannes Hevelius

Johannes Hevelius lived around – born in Gdansk he was a renowned astronomer and an author of Selenographia. In 1640 he built an observatory in Gdansk for which he himself invented many instruments. Hevelius observed the placement of many planets, comets and stars including the surface of the Moon and the moons of Saturn and Jupiter. At the time, he invented what was considered to be the largest telescope on Earth with the length of 50 meters. He left behind many instructive works.

Gunter Grass

Gunter Grass – a German poet born in 1927 in Gdansk (ancestors from his mother’s side were of Kashubian origin). Well known for his novel “The Tin Drum” released in Poland in 1979 in which he criticizes his nation’s socialism. His rich creativity was largely based on a wide variety of topics ranging from political to ecological issues. In “The Call of The Toad” Grass condemns the form of reconciliation between Poland and Germany. In 1999 he received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Lech Walesa

Lech Walesa (born in 1943). An alumnus of a vocation school in Lipno. He was a member of shipyard strike committee during so called “December Events” in During he was co-founder of many non-communist trade unions and took part in many actions on the sea coast for which he was kept under surveillance. Between 1980 and 1990 he presided as the leader of Solidarity. During martial law he was frequently detained. He represented the Solidarity Trade Union during many “round table” discussions. From he was the president of the Republic of Poland. He received countless awards including the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1998 he became the head of the Christian Democracy of the Third Commonwealth of the Republic of Poland.

Dariusz Michalczewski

Darius Michalczewski (born in 1969). A citizen of Gdansk who after becoming the Polish Champion moved to Germany, where in 1991 began his career as a professional boxer. He was undefeated until October 2003 when he lost to the Mexican Julio Cesar Gonzales. Earlier Tiger was World Champion in the welter-weight division of all federations. Michalczewski opened pubs in Warsaw, Szczecin and Gdansk (where he also owns a fitness club). He is a strong supporter of many social initiatives and he’s funded scholarships for many talented boxers. He was ranked 149th among the richest Poles in 2003 with a net worth close to 7.5 million euros. In early June 2005 he announced his retirement from the ring, but expressed interest in staying involved in boxing by mentoring and managing young athletes.

Henryk Jankowski

Henry Jankowski (born December 18, 1936), a Polish catholic priest, served as rector at the St. Brigid Parish in Gdansk, closely tied to the Solidarity movement and the anti-communist opposition. On March 17, 1970 he took an oath in Gdansk and formally became the rector of the St. Brigid Parish in Gdansk. On August 17, 1980 in the Gdansk Shipyard he celebrated mass with hundreds of workers. Shortly afterwards he was called to become the official chief priest of Solidarity. During martial law the St. Brigid Church and presbytery became the headquarters of the opposition movement. He was a key figure in organizing material support for members of the movement and their families. The church became a site of many anti- government rallies. From 1990 he served as the Honorary Prelate of John Paul II.