Count Stanisław Kostka Potocki (1755-1821) was a Polish noble, politician, writer, publicist, collector and patron of art.

Son of General and starost of Lwów, Eustachy Potocki and Anna Kątska. Brother of Ignacy Potocki. He married the daughter of Great Marshal of the Crown, Prince Stanisław Lubomisrki, Princess Aleksandra Lubomirska on June 2, 1776. He was Great Podstoli of the Crown in 1781-1784, Artillery General of the Crown since 1792. Deputy of Lublin and one of leaders of the Patriotic Party on the Four-Year Sejm.

In the rank of an Artillery General of the Crown, he parcipated in the Polish-Russian war.

From 1792 to 1797 he lived in emigration.

Co-founder and member of the Society of the Friends of Science TPN (Towarzystwo Przyjaciól Nauk) in 1800 in the Duchy of Warsaw. From 1807 a member of the Commission of the Government (Komisja Rządząca), chairman of the House of Education (Izba Edukacyjna) and from 1810 director of the National Education Association (Edukacji Narodowej).

Since 1809 chairman of the Council of State (Rada Stanu) and the Council of Ministers (Rada Ministrów). From 1818 to 1820 chairman of the Senate.

He organized archaeological excavations in Italy, inter alia in Laurentum in 1779 and Noli in 1785-1786. He collected art, mainly paintings, graphics and ceramics (antiquity).

His collection exhibited in Wilanów in 1805, initiated one of the first museums in Poland. He died on September 14, 1821 and was buried in the church of Wilanów.

Awards

• Knight of the Order of the White Eagle, awarded in 1781.

Works

• Świstek krytyczny, ("Pamiętnik Warszawski" 1816-18)
• Podróż do Ciemnogrodu (t. 1-4 1820)