Features of life and activities of Jokūbas Ignotas Nagurskis

The article presents the features of life and activities of one of the most distinguished personalities from the Duchy of Žemaitija (Samogitia, 2nd half 18th c.) - Jokūbas Ignotas Nagurskis. Jokūbas Ignotas Nagirskis was born around 1734 to the family of Pranciškus Vladislovas Nagurskis and Joana Šiukštaitė. He was the youngest child in the family, had six sisters and one brother. The system of education and the program for the expansion of important relations planned by his father guaranted splendid prospects of his career. The most significant step in Jokūbas’ career - the granted office of a chamberlain (1765), one of the most important in Samogitia. This fast advance in J. Nagurskis’ career was determined by his close links with the Čartoriskis family - the principle supporters of the ruler S. A. Poniatovskis. In the 2nd half of the 18th c. J. Nagurskis became one of the largest-scale and the richest land owners in Samogitia. His main residence was the Kurtuvėnai estate. The exclusive Jokūbas’ status not only in Samogitia but on the scale of the whole Grand Duchy of Lithuania is witnessed by the most important awards of the period granted to him by King Poniatovskis: the Orders of St Stanislaw (1779) and the White Eagle (1792). Describing the life of Jokūbas Ignotas Nagurskis, the author makes two important observations: first, J. Nagurskis’ fast and successful career and his awards speak of his exclusive status in the 2nd half of the 18th c. not only in Samogitia but also in the whole GDL. Second, the influence of his close people and the circumstances of the period made a great influence on J. Nagurskis’ world outlook which was witnessed not only by his economic or cultural activities as the chamberlain of Samogitia but also his everyday life