The Name "Kosciusko"
Mount Kosciusko was first climbed by Count Paul Edmund de Strzelecki
in February 1840, accompanied by local grazier, James MacArthur.
Strzelecki climbed what he described as the highest peak, from the
Victorian side, using Hannels Spur. To this day, there remains a controversy
as to whether he actually climbed the more obvious peak, Mt Townsend,
that is only eleven feet shorter than Kosciusko. He named the peak "Kosciusko"
(using that spelling) because he thought the peak resembled the tomb
of the Polish Patriot of that name (further supporting the argument
that he did in fact climb and name the right mountain.)
The polish patriot is well known around the world, as demonstrated
by the statue shown above, which resides in front of the White House
in Washington, USA.
Tadevush Kastsyushka (Thaddeus Kosciusko) (February 12, 1746 - October
15, 1817)
From the Historical Dictionary of Belarus - "Political and military
leader with liberal views and great military talent, defender of the
Commonwealth, and participant in the American War of Independence.
Kosciuszko [Kosciusko] graduated from the Warsaw Cadet Corps (1769)
and studied at the Paris Military Academy (1774). He participated as
a volunteer in the American War of Independence (1775-1783). In 1784
he returned home and served in the Polish army. As the supreme commander
of the Polish forces he led the Uprising of 1794 in Poland, Belarus,
and Lithuania, defending the independence of the Commonwealth against
Russians and Prussians. Gravely wounded and defeated, he spent two years
in a Russian prison, from which he was released in 1796.
He died in Switzerland. His body is buried in Krakow, Poland."
"Kosciuszko is celebrated as a Polish and American hero. Belarusan
historians point to his Belarusan genealogy. He was born in Belarus
and originally christened in the Orthodox rite, hence one of his first
names was Andrej."
Other Ascents
The first winter ascent of Mt Kosciusko was made by Charles Kerry (after
which "The Kerries" are named) on 19th August, 1887.
Further, to confuse the issue of the first ascent, Dr J Lhotsky visited
the Snowy Mountains in March 1834 and climbed a number of the peaks
on the Main Range. Many believe that he was, in fact, the first person
to climb Mt Kosciusko, using the "boiling water temperature method"
to determine his altitude as being about 8000 feet.
A note for this page, Michal Strzelecki contacted us from Poland,
via email in June 2002, and confirmed that his name, and that of the
explorer, are spelt correctly on this page.
Page last updated 26 December 2003.
