Polish pianist, composer and diplomat, born in Podolia, a province of Russian Poland. He studied music chiefly at Warsaw, Berlin and Vienna, where he was a pupil of Theodor Leschetizky (1830–1915), the pianist and composer. He made his first public appearance in Vienna in 1887, in Paris in 1889, and in London in 1890, his brilliant playing created a furore which went to almost extravagant lengths of admiration; and his triumphs were repeated in America in 1891. His name at once became synonymous with the highest pitch of pianoforte playing, and society was at his feet. In 1899 he married Baroness de Rosen, and after 1900 he appeared but little in public; but he became better known as a composer, chiefly of pieces for his own instrument. In 1901 his opera Manru was performed at Dresden.
After the outbreak of the World War in 1914 he gave numerous benefit concerts in America for Polish sufferers and delivered addresses in their behalf. He was appointed plenipotentiary in America for the National Polish Committee, which early had won official recognition by the Allies.
Among the Poles in America—some millions—there was great dissension as to the means of gaining independence for Poland. With rare skill he induced the stubborn factions to accept the authority of the National Polish Committee, of which he was the most influential member in Paris. In the words of Mr. Robert Lansing, who, as a peace delegate, came into constant contact with him there, he was “an able and tactful leader of his countrymen and a sagacious diplomat.” He was among the statesmen, who, in Paris, December 1918, formulated the terms of the Peace Treaty. Meanwhile discord had arisen between the Polish Government and the National Committee. At the close of the year Paderewski returned to Poland and was received in triumph. In January 1919 an agreement was reached with Gen. Pilsudski, whereby Paderewski headed a new coalition cabinet as premier and minister for foreign affairs. In this capacity he signed, June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles. He resigned as premier in December 1919. It was generally felt that he had been more successful as a diplomat than as an administrator. In an interview given to newspaper reporters after his return to America in February 1921, he asserted that he would never again appear in piano recitals. His last professional appearance as a pianist had been at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, on the 9th of May 1917.
