Edward Dembowski (31 May 1822 – 27 February 1846) was a Polish philosopher, literary critic, journalist, and leftist independence activist.

Life

Edward Dembowski was the son of Julia, née Kochanowska, and a conservative castellan-voivode of the Congress Poland, Leon Dembowski. On account of Edward's szlachta origins and contrasting radical social views, he was called "the red castellan's-son." Dembowski published Przegląd Naukowy (The Learned Review), a journal for young, independence-minded intelligentsia. In 1842–43 Dembowski conducted underground revolutionary activities in the Russian-ruled Congress Poland. Later, being at risk of arrest by Russian authorities, he transferred to Prussian-ruled Greater Poland. During the 1846 Kraków Uprising, Dembowski was secretary to dictator Jan Tyssowski. Dembowski died on 27 February 1846 at Podgórze, shot by Austrian troops while leading a procession to conduct agitation among the peasants. In his philosophical views, Dembowski was a leftist Hegelian.