Count Jan Klemens Branicki (also known as Jan Kazimierz Branicki; 21 September 1689 â 9 October 1771) was a Polish nobleman, magnate and Hetman, Field Crown Hetman of the PolishâÂÂLithuanian Commonwealth between 1735 and 1752, and Great Crown Hetman between 1752 and 1771. One of the wealthiest Polish magnates in the 18th century, owner of 12 towns, 257 villages and 17 palaces. He was the last male representative of the Branicki family.
He was a recipient of the Spanish Order of the Golden Fleece.
He was the son of the Palatine of Podlaskie Voivodeship Stefan Mikoà Âaj Branicki and Katarzyna Scholastyka Sapieha, the daughter of Hetman Kazimierz Jan Sapieha. Jan had three wives:
The first wife was Princess Katarzyna Barbara Radziwià Âà Â, the daughter of Count and Grand Marshal Karol Stanisà Âaw Radziwià Âà Â, whom he married on 1 October 1720 in Biaà Âa Podlaska.
His second wife was Barbara Szembek in 1732; this marriage ended in a divorce.
His third and last wife was Izabella Poniatowska, the daughter of the magnate Stanisà Âaw Poniatowski, whom he married in 1748.
He was Podczaszy of Lithuania (podczaszy litewski) in 1723, Grand Standard-Bearer of the Crown (chorÃ à ¼y wielki koronny) in 1724, commander of an infantry regiment (szef regimentu pieszego) in 1726, Artillery General of the Crown (generaà  artylerii koronnej) in 1728, hetman polny koronny in 1735, Palatine of Kraków Voivodship (wojewoda krakowski) in 1746, hetman wielki koronny in 1752 and Castellan of Kraków (kasztelan krakowski) in 1762. He was the Starost of Braà Âsk, Bielsk Podlaski, Moà Âcisk, Janów Lubelski, Bohusà Âaw, Zà Âotoryja, Kroà Âno and Jezierzysk (starosta braà Âski, bielski, moà Âcicki, janowski, bohuslawski, zà Âotoryjski, kroà Ânienski, jezierzyski).
Branicki was one of the most powerful and influential magnates in Poland of the 18th century. He was the leader of the magnates party. Connected with the Radziwià Âà  and Potocki families and an opponent of the "Familia".
He sympathized with confederates of the Radom Confederation and the Confederation of Bar. Branicki was the owner of Biaà Âystok. At that time Biaà Âystok began to develop. In 1745 he established a military and engineer school and a theatre.
In 1763âÂÂ1764 he ran in the election for the King of Poland, but was beaten by his brother-in-law Stanisà Âaw Poniatowski.
He married three times: