Adam Mickiewicz, a Polish poet, born in Novogrodek, Lithuania, in 1798, died in Constantinople, Nov. 27, 1855. He studied physics and chemistry at the university of Wilna, but finally devoted himself almost exclusively to literature and poetry, and became professor of literature at Kovno. In 1822 lie published at Wilna two small volumes of poetry, afterward augmented, which contained some of the finest ballads in the Polish language, a historical epic, Grazyna, and under the title of Dziady a romantic autobiographical drama. This publication raised Mickiewicz to the highest rank in Polish poetry. He was idolized by the revolutionary youth of Poland, particularly after he was tried for participation in the secret associations of Zan, imprisoned in the Basilian convent at Wilna, and finally condemned in 1S24 to perpetual banishment from his native country. He was removed to St. Petersburg, where he became familiar with the most distinguished Russian liberals, and subsequently to Odessa, whence he was allowed to make a tour through the Crimea. This he partly described in his " Sonnets," which were followed by his second epic, Wallenrod, published in 1828 at St. Petersburg, whither he had received permission to return.

This poem, the theme of which is the struggle of the Lithuanians in the 14th century against their oppressors, the Teutonic knights, was favorably received in Russia, being also translated into the Russian language, and the author was even allowed to enter upon a tour through Germany and France to Italy for the restoration of his health. At Rome he received the news of the outbreak of Nov. 29, 1830; but he did not reach the confines of his native country until the struggle had ended, and he never again entered Poland, lie went to Dresden, and there wrote the second part of Dziady (Paris, 1832), in which he described his imprisonment and the cruelties perpetrated by Russian tyranny on Poland. His next publication was Ksiegi narodu pol-slciego i pielgrzymstwa polshiego ("Books of the Polish Nation and the Polish Pilgrimage," 1832), which was followed by another poetical work, Pan Tadeusz ("Sir Thaddeus," 1834), a picture of Lithuanian life and society in 1812 at the approach of Napoleon's invasion.

He had lived for some years in Paris when in 1839 he accepted a professorship of classical literature at Lausanne; but in a year he returned to Paris to fill the chair of Slavic literature in the college de France. He was now known as a zealous advocate of Roman Catholicism, from which he hoped for a regeneration of his country, as well as of Panslavic tendencies, which were not shared by all of his fellow exiles. His "Lectures on Slavic Literature," published both in French and German, gradually developed still more surprising phases. The inspiring genius of the poet was now a fanatical Polish priest, Towi-anski, who had mesmerized Mme. Mickiewicz in a dangerous illness in 1841, from which she recovered, and who, pretending to be enlightened by celestial visions, was followed by Mickiewicz as the Messiah of a new religion, in which the memory of Napoleon received almost divine honors. In order to gain over Pius IX. to his schemes of national regeneration, he went to Italy in 1848, and at Florence received a flattering ovation.

In 1851 he was appointed by Louis Napoleon sub-librarian of the library of the arsenal at Paris; and on the outbreak of the war against Kussia he headed a Polish deputation to the French emperor, calling upon him to turn the great movement in favor of their oppressed country. Soon after he was sent on a secret mission to Constantinople, where he ended his career. His works have passed through numerous editions, and have been partly translated into other languages. His correspondence has been published in Paris (3 vols., 1870 et seq.).