In 1794, after the second partitioning of Poland, Kościuszko led an insurrection against Russia. During the American War of Independence, he served in the Continental Army.
An engineer by training, he designed and oversaw the construction of state-of-the-art fortifications, including at West Point. He was promoted to the rank of general after the siege of Saratoga.
A friend of Thomas Jefferson, he received American citizenship and land from George Washington himself.
