Gembicki, Laurence

Gembicki, Laurence archbishop and grandchancellor of Poland, was born about 1550. He commenced his studies at Posen, and completed them at Ingolstadt. He was sent as ambassador to Rome to pope Clement VIII. Returning to Poland, he was made bishop of Kulm or Chelmno, and in 1609 became grand-chancellor of the crown. In 1613 he obtained the bishopric of Kuiavia, and in 1616 was made archbishop of Gnesen, and primate of the kingdom, the highest ecclesiastical dignity in Poland. He died in 1624, leaving Exhortatio ad Principem Wadislaum, cum a S.R.M. Omnium Inclyte Regni Poloniae Ordinum Consensu, etc. See Hoefer, Nouvelle Biographie Generale, s.v.