Smolinski, Joseph, Jr.
Colonel in U.S. Marine. Attorney at law. Born in Quebec, Canada, Oct. 19, 1845. The son of Joseph Smolinski, Sr. Education: University Institute, Nogent-sur-Marne, France; Polish National School, Paris, and London. Enlisted in Civil War, Sept. 3, 1861, New York. Has held the, posts of private in United States Lancers, subsequently Ninth New York Cavalry, 1861-65. In the Civil War the youngest officer, 1863-65 of the American Cavalry. At the end of the Civil War he served in Marine Corps. Clerk in the War Department; at one time chief of division of Military Information Department, 1875-1909. Attorney and general agent, United States, and Foreign Patent Office, Washington, D.C., 1909-1912. Commissioner of Deeds, Amsterdam, N.Y., 1912-; engaged in editing and translating a Polish Encyclopedia. Member of the Third Order of St. Francis Secular. Representative of the Poles of America before the Senate Committee on Immigration, 57th Congress, Washington, D.C. One of two authors of Rule X, United States Civil Service; Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Kosciuszko statue, erected at West Point, New York, 1913. Has attended, as delegate, or on invitation, numerous Polish conventions and congresses. Founded Polish Businessmen's Association, Amsterdani, N.Y. Honorary member of many Polish National Societies of United States. Corresponding member of the Society of Polish National Museum at Rappersvyl, Switzerland. Member of the Loyal Legion of the United States; contributed to Catholic University Bulletin; wrote an article to the Catholic Encyclopedia: "Marcin Bielski," New York, 1917. He was a military and civil organizer of the Fenian Brotherhood with the rank of a captain and later major of a national organization. (Heath's History of G.A.R.) He was one of the organizers of the Veterans Union and became general assistant with the rank of Colonel; founded and organized the United States Marine Legion with the rank of Colonel (History of the National Association of Naval Veterans by Simmons, page 125). Member of the Grand Army of Republic and organizer of Lafayette Post of G.A.R.; was honorary member of Farragut Post, of the National Association of Naval Veterans in Philadelphia. Translated from the French into English a proclamation of the Polish Democratic Association in Warsaw to the world Conference in Hague in 1899. Contributed many articles to the American press. He was a teacher, editor and correspondent of "The Catholic Mirror," Baltimore, Md., "The Irish World," "Citizen," and others. Recovered and published the letters of Pulaski and Kosciuszko. (See: Lempicki Stanislaus: "Historja Zwiazku Mlodziezy Polskiej w Ameryce," Chicago, Ill., 1906.) At the end of his life he was an officer in the Foreign Office of United States, Washington, D.C. Died in 1912.From: "Who's Who in Polish America" by Rev. Francis Bolek, Editor-in-Chief; Harbinger House, New York, 1943