Сократ Иванович Старынкевич (in Polish: Sokrat Starynkiewicz, born 1820 in Taganrog) was a Russian general, governor of Kherson (1868-71), and president (mayor) of Warsaw (since 1875) in times when the city with other Polish lands belonged to Russian Empire. Being with no doubts a Russian patriot, and fully loyal to the tzar, Starynkevich treated also Poles in an honest and honorable way (contrary to other Russian 19th century governors sent to Warsaw, usually brutal towards local population, and often affected by corruption). He modernized the city, and gained hearts of citizens as one of best Warsaw mayors in history. After he retired in 1892, he decided to stay in Warsaw until his death in 1902. During his funeral at the Orthodox cemetary in Warsaw more than 100 thousands of inhabitants were participating. He is commemorated in Warsaw by one of squares in the city centre (plac Starynkiewicza), and a small monument.
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