Conservative political columnist, for years leading Polish author of articles devoted to international politics, editor of the daily Czas.
Born on 2 October 1814 in the village of Siemakowce, now located in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Ukraine. In 1830, graduated with a gold medal from the prestigious St. Anna High School. Studied at the Jagiellonian University — first, at the Faculty of Philosophy, where he studied Polish literature, and then at the Faculty of Law and Administration. Passed his exams with excellent grades. Studied at the La Grenade Institute in Geneva. After his return to Cracow in 1837, Mann became the administrator of Henryk Wodzicki’s village of Wróżenice, currently located within Cracow’s borders. Mentor to Zygmunt Załuski. During 1840‒1842, traveled around France, Italy, and England. After his return, he moved to Greater Poland. Co-founded the Polish League — an organization to defend Polish rights. Began to gain fame as a political columnist with his pamphlets: Liga i doświadczenie [the League and experience] (1849) and Egoizm, narodowość i Liga [egoism, nationality, and the League] (1849). A correspondent to the conservative daily Czas, published in Cracow. In 1850, moved to Cracow and joined the daily’s editorial staff. He quit next year, after a dispute with Paweł Popiel over an article with which the magazine’s founder wanted to welcome Franz Joseph to Cracow. Mann and Walerian Kalinka, another member of the editorial staff, criticized the article as too servile. During 1852‒1853, Mann traveled to Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, and Greece. He published his travel account in his book Podróż na Wschód [journey to the East] (1854‒1855). After returning to Cracow, he rejoined the editorial staff of Czas. For many years Mann was the daily’s key political journalist. He devoted, among others, four pamphlets to the issue of the Pope’s secular power: O sprawie Państwa Kościelnego [on the Church State] (1859), Do sprawy Państwa Kościelnego [more on the Church State] (1860), W sprawie Państwa Kościelnego [with regard to the Church State] (1860) and Il papato e le nazionalità italiana e polacca [the papacy and the Italian and Polish nationalities] (1860). Creator and editor-in-chief of the Monthly Supplement to Czas, issued during 1856‒1860, where he regularly published excellent analyses of international politics. Mann played an important role in Galician politics, writing articles showing the direction for conservative Polish politics in the Austrian partition. His editorial to the 15 December 1860 issue of Czas is considered his most important political statement — Mann demanded political autonomy for Galician Poles. Despite the conflict with Aleksander Wielopolski, he tried to convince the owner of Czas, Wincenty Kirchmajer, to change the editorial line of Czas to one favorable to the margrave. Unsupported, Mann decided to leave the newspaper. Spent the next two years in Italy and other countries. In June 1862, suddenly taken ill in Ems, decided to burn his memoirs (Les mémoires d’un homme de rien). In mid-1863, resumed his cooperation with Czas, becoming its parliamentary correspondent from Vienna. In 1865, rejoined the editorial staff and again led the way in setting and following the daily’s political direction. Died on 13 November 1876.