Stanislaus II Augustus Poniatowski, King of Poland

STANISLAO II Augusto Poniatowski, king of POLAND. — Born on 17 January 1732 at Wolczyn, died on 12 February 1798 at Petersburg.

He travelled throughout Europe until, in 1755, he went to Russia with the English diplomat Sir Hanbury Williams and became the favorite of Catherine II, then grand duchess. Returning to Poland, he was elected king of Poland in 1764 under pressure from Catherine, of whom he was a weak political instrument. His reign marked the end of Poland as an independent state, since S. was forced to consent to the three partitions of the country among Austria, Prussia, and Russia. On 25 November 1795 he abdicated and moved to Russia, where he received a pension from the three powers that had divided Poland.