Bolesław Wieniawa - Długoszowski Bolesław Ignacy Florian Wieniawa - Długoszowski ( July 22 , 1881 – July 1 , 1942 ) was a Polish general , politician , poet and diplomat , as well as formally President of the Republic of Poland for one day . Before World War I . Bolesław Wieniawa - Długoszowski was born on 22 July 1881 , in his family ' s estates in Maksymówka ( near Stanisławów – now Ivano - Frankivsk ) . He was a son of a Polish Nobleman Bolesław Długoszowski and Josephine Struszkiewicz . In 1877 his family had moved to palace in another family ' s estates in Bobowa . There Bolesław had spent his early life . He was learning in gymnasium in Lwów , where he was one of the best students . After several years he moved to school in Nowy Sącz . There , in 1900 , he passed his graduation exams . After school he studied medicine at Jan Kazimierz University in Lwów , gaining a special diploma with high distinction . After studies he moved to Berlin where he spent a year studying in the very prestigious Berlin Academy of Arts . After school he moved to Paris , where he worked as a private doctor ( one of the best in the city ) . In 1911 he was one of the founders of The Union of Polish Artists ( Towarzystwo Artystów Polskich ) . He also joined Riflemen ' s Association ( Związek Strzelecki " Strzelec " ) . There he met Józef Piłsudski . 1914 – 1942 . In 1914 he moved to Kraków and joined the First Cadre Company which fought on the Austro - Hungarian side against Russia . In October 1914 he became a commander of a platoon of a squadron in 1 Pułk Ułanów Legionów Polskich . During the fighting in 1914 – 1915 he was promoted to lieutenant , and after the war he was awarded the V - Class Virtuti Militari . In August 1915 he moved to the special group in Warsaw . Soon he became an aide - de - camp of Józef Piłsudski . In 1918 , while on a mission to Russia , he was arrested by the Soviet Cheka as a member of the Polish Military Organisation . He was freed after several months . As aide - de - camp of Józef Piłsudski during the Polish - Soviet War he helped Marshall with organising the Vilna Operation and Battle of Warsaw . He was also a commander of 1st Cavalry Division . After the war Wieniawa was awarded many medals ( such as Légion d ' honneur , Cross of Valor and Cross of Independence ) . In November 1921 he became Polish Military attaché in Bucharest , Romania . He was associated with making the Polish - Romanian convention which was signed in 1922 . In 1926 he passed his exams in High War School , and soon he became a commander of 1 Pułk Szwoleżerów Józefa Piłsudskiego – the most prestigious and representative Polish cavalry division . He commanded it until 1930 . During the May Coup he was one of Piłsudski ' s officers . He gave him much help with organising the coup . From 1930 – 1932 he was commander of I Cavalry division and for some time II Cavalry Division . In 1931 he was promoted by the President Ignacy Mościcki to the rank of Brigadier General . In 1932 he became a commander of II Cavalry Division and performed his duties until 14 May 1938 . In 1938 he was promoted to the General - major . From 1938 to 13 June 1940 , he was Polish Ambassador in Rome . One - day Presidency . On 17 September 1939 , he was nominated president of Poland by retiring President Ignacy Mościcki . Shortly after being nominated , Poland was invaded and he went to Paris to perform his new role but was blackballed by Władysław Sikorski , the French Third Republic and the United Kingdom . After the capitulation of France he emigrated to Lisbon but soon he moved to New York . Many sources do not list Wieniawa as President , merely " designated successor " . However , according to the then constitution , when the President can not execute his powers ( as when Mościcki was interned in Romania and it was clear that he would not be released unless he resigned ) , the designated successor automatically became President . After receiving appointment or becoming President , Wieniawa asked Cardinal August Hlond to become Prime Minister . Hlond refused , referring , noteworthy fact , to Wieniawa as , " Mr . President " . Also in a press statement from President Lech Wałęsa ' s press secretary on September 21 , 1994 , to " Dziennik Polski " Wieniawa - Dłogoszowski was referred to as one of the legitimate Presidents in Exile . According to some opinions Mościcki intended to pass his office to Wieniawa - Dłogoszowski as a caretaker , until a candidate accepted by both Sanacja and opposition circles , General Kazimierz Sosnkowski , whose whereabout was unknown in September 1939 . Finally compromise candidate Władysław Raczkiewicz was chosen after Wieniawa resignation . Death . Wieniawa became Polish Ambassador in Havana , but after moving to Washington he died by his own hand . This source states that he committed suicide by leaping from an upper story of a New York city residence , but the exact details of his death are subject to debate among historians . In 1936 , he was awarded the Golden Laurel of the Polish Academy of Literature Academic merit for literature .