Pianist, composer, and patriot, born in Kurylowka, Poland. He studied at Warsaw, becoming professor at the Conservatory in 1878. In 1884 he taught at the Strasbourg Conservatory, and became a virtuoso pianist, appearing throughout Europe and America. He became director of Warsaw Conservatory in 1909. In 1919 he was asked to be the first premier of Poland, but soon retired from politics, went to live in Switzerland, and resumed concert work.