Literary Association of the Friends of Poland facts for kids
The Literary Association of the Friends of Poland was a British group that supported the Poles. It was started on February 25, 1832, in the United Kingdom. The main people behind it were Thomas Campbell, a Scottish poet, and Adolphus Bach, a German lawyer. Many people in Britain at the time felt strongly about helping Poland. Even important Polish figures like Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski and Count Zamoyski attended events for the association.
Contents
How the Association Started
Thomas Campbell was the first president of the Literary Association of the Friends of Poland. A young Anglo-Irishman named Richard Graves Meredith was the first secretary.
Why the Association Was Formed
The main goal of the association was to keep British people interested in Poland's struggle for freedom. This was especially important after the November Uprising failed. The November Uprising was a big fight by Poles against Russian rule, but it didn't succeed. The association wanted to make sure people didn't forget about Poland's situation.
Many important British politicians and public figures joined the group. Some of them included Sir Francis Burdett, Lord Dudley Coutts Stuart, and Daniel O'Connell. Their involvement showed how much support there was for Poland in Britain.
Groups Across Britain
The main association was in London, but other groups were also formed in different parts of Britain in 1832. These local groups helped support the main one. For example, there was the Hull Literary Polish Society, the Glasgow Polish Association, and the Birmingham Polish Association.
Later Supporters
Later on, in the 1880s, Maude Ashurst Biggs and her mother became strong supporters of the Polish cause. Maude Biggs helped by translating famous Polish poems into English. She translated Adam Mickiewicz's long poems, like Konrad Wallenrod in 1882 and Master Thaddeus, or, The Last Foray in Lithuania in 1885. These translations helped share Polish culture and stories with English speakers, supporting the Polish cause.
See also
- Historical and Literary Society
- Polish Library in Paris
