Antoni Giełgud

Antoni Giełgud of Giełgud (1792-1831) was a Polish military officer, a general of the Polish Army. During the Napoleon's invasion of Russia he financed and commanded the creation of the 21st Infantry Regiment, which he led since 1821. During the November Uprising he returned to active service and initially served as a commanding officer of the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division under Jan Krukowiecki. A hero of the battles of Wawer and Białołęka, he was given command over the entire 2nd Infantry Division. He covered the retreat of Polish forces after the battle of Ostrołęka, but got separated from the main force and decided to head for Lithuania instead.

He defeated the Russians in the Battle of Rajgród, but his assault of Wilno failed and his corps composed of his own division and the forces of Dezydery Chłapowski have lost over 2000 men in the battle of Ponary. Unable to return to Polish main forces at that time converging on Warsaw, he decided to head of Memel, where he was expecting to receive foreign reinforcements. En route however all three of Giełgud's columns were intercepted by the Russians and forced to cross the Prussian border. Giełgud himself soon after crossing the border was shot dead by one of his staff officers, enraged by his poor command. He died 31 August 1831 in the village of Schnaugsten (modern Šnaukštai, Lithuania) and was buried in a nearby town of Kisin (modern Kisiniai), 10 km from Memel.