W. S. Lach-Szyrma

Wladislaw Somerville Lach-Szyrma was the son of Krystyn Lach-Szyrma (1790–1866) and Sarah Frances Somerville (1802–1869). Krystyn was a Polish professor of philosophy who fled Poland c. 1830 to escape persecution amidst the November Uprising. He abandoned his teaching position at the University of Warsaw and started a new life in England, where he married Sarah Somerville of Plymouth.

Wladislaw was born on 25 December 1841 in nearby Devonport (which was still a town, as it had not yet been assimilated by the city of Plymouth). He had one younger brother: Stanislaw Stuart Lach-Szyrma (18 February 1844 – 19 June 1844), who died in infancy. Wladislaw married twice. His second wife, Rosina Atkinson (1846–1929), bore 13 children.

After studying the classics in a Literae Humaniores course at Brasenose College, Oxford, Wladislaw accepted a curacy in Pensilva; so began a life of service to the Church of England in Cornwall. In 1869 he took the curacy at St Paul's in Truro, followed in 1871 by another in Carnmenellis. He became ill during a visit to Paris; after a short recovery, he returned to England to find that several newspapers had published his obituary.[1] For example, the following appeared in the Exeter paper The Western Times on 30 January 1871:[2]

Death of the Rev. W. G. Lach-Szyrma.—This gentleman, son of the late Col. Lach-Szyrma, a Pole, was born at Devonport. He was well known in this county, and also in Cornwall, having been for some time curate at St. Pauls, Truro. He was a young man of great talent and promise, and his untimely death at the age of 29 is a great loss. He was a high churchman, but he always spoke kindly of dissenters, and especially regarded Wesley and his works with great interest and favour. He often preached in the open air, and made a great impression upon the Moormen while residing at Prince Town, Dartmoor.

From 1873 until 1890 he served as vicar of St. Peter's Church in the port town of Newlyn.[3]

Wladislaw Lach-Szyrma was keenly interested in the history of Cornwall. He wrote prolifically about the churches and antiquities there—especially those of the district around Penzance. He was also a pioneering writer of science fiction. His 1883 novel, Aleriel, or A Voyage to Other Worlds, was one of the first works to use the word Martian as a noun.[4][5]

He died in Barkingside, Essex on 25 June 1915.[6]

• Victorian literature

• Works by or about W. S. Lach-Szyrma at Internet Archive