Tadeusz Kosciusko 1746-1817 (Ass-Kicking Polish Freedom Fighters #1)

His name is pronounced "Ta-doosh Kosh-choosh-ko". Went to the American colonies in 1776 to help fight for their independence from England. If not for his skill with artillery and fortifications, the battle of Saratoga might have been lost, and with that loss, we might still be the queen's subjects. After the Revolutionary War he was made a Brigadier General and a US Citizen. Thomas Jefferson said of him "He was as pure a son of liberty as I have ever known." (Kosciusko named Jefferson the executor of his will.)

He also fought for Poland's independence from the three European powers (Russia, Prussia and Austria) who had conspired to eliminate Poland from the map of Europe. He won many battles against superior numbers, but was defeated and captured at the battle of Maciejowice (Ma-chee-yo-vee-tse). The Polish national anthem begins with words that he supposedly spoke during that battle.

Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła,	Poland has not yet perished,
Póki my żyjemy.	as long as we live.
Co nam obca przemoc wzięła,	Whatever foreign force took from us,
Szablą odbierzemy.	with the saber we'll take back.

He was imprisoned by Catherine the Great of Russia and was exiled from Poland in 1797, which by then did not exist and would not again become a nation until 1918.

In vain, alas! In vain, ye gallant few!
Flank rank to rank your volleyed thunder flew
Oh, bloodiest picture in the book of Time,
Sarmatia fell, unwept, without a crime;
Found not a generous friend, a pitying foe,
Strength in her arms, nor mercy in her woe!
Dropped from her nerveless grasp the shattered spear,
Closed her bright eye, and curbed her high career
HOPE, for a season, bade the world farewell,
And Freedom shrieked as KOSCIUSKO fell!

(Sarmatia was another name for Poland)