Julian Wang
Julian Wang, a man who devoted almost his entire professional life to the gas and chemical industry, went against these trends. Due to his undertakings, he can be regarded as one of the pioneers of the Polish gas industry.
Julian Wang was born in 1844 in Brody in Eastern Galicia, close to the Russian border. He finished secondary school (realschule) in his hometown and then moved to Lviv, where he began studying at the Technical Academy (later the Lviv Polytechnic).
His education was interrupted by the outbreak of the January Uprising. In 1863, following his heart, like many of his peers from Lviv, he joined the insurgent units being formed in Galicia. His story as an insurgent remains unknown: all we know is that he returned to his studies safe and sound after the fall of the uprising. He graduated successfully in 1865. Using his technical skills and keeping up with the times, he decided to start one of the first photography studios in Lviv, which operated under the name of "Wang" and later "Wang i Rodecki".
His education was interrupted by the outbreak of the January Uprising. In 1863, following his heart, like many of his peers from Lviv, he joined the insurgent units being formed in Galicia. His story as an insurgent remains unknown: all we know is that he returned to his studies safe and sound after the fall of the uprising. He graduated successfully in 1865. Using his technical skills and keeping up with the times, he decided to start one of the first photography studios in Lviv, which operated under the name of "Wang" and later "Wang i Rodecki".
A career as a photographer and person running a photography studio was not all Wang dreamed in his twenties. Hungry for knowledge, he decided to develop his engineering skills and gather work experience in Western Europe.
In 1867 he went to Lower Austria and then to Saxony-Anhalt. In Stassfurt, Saxony, he got a job as an engineer in the local salt mine. After his return to Galicia, he tried various jobs based on his technical interests. For example, he was involved in the mining of kainite near Kalusz, and then ran a modern steam sawmill in Sołotwina (near Bohorodchany, now Ukraine).
In 1867 he went to Lower Austria and then to Saxony-Anhalt. In Stassfurt, Saxony, he got a job as an engineer in the local salt mine. After his return to Galicia, he tried various jobs based on his technical interests. For example, he was involved in the mining of kainite near Kalusz, and then ran a modern steam sawmill in Sołotwina (near Bohorodchany, now Ukraine).
The turning point in his professional life came in the early 1870s, when he became seriously interested in the manufacture of illuminating gas. His scientific fascination with gas as an energy resource materialised in Stanisławów (now Ukrainian Ivano-Frankivsk), considered the "third city of Galicia".
In the town on the Bystrytsia river, he became famous as a builder of the city's first gasworks, which was being constructed between 1873 and 1874. With ownership shares, he managed the gasworks from the time of its construction until the turn of 1884, when it finally passed into the hands of the municipality. Wang made the only right decision at the time, as the growing demand for energy from the gasworks required huge investments that were beyond the capacity of the owner.
In the town on the Bystrytsia river, he became famous as a builder of the city's first gasworks, which was being constructed between 1873 and 1874. With ownership shares, he managed the gasworks from the time of its construction until the turn of 1884, when it finally passed into the hands of the municipality. Wang made the only right decision at the time, as the growing demand for energy from the gasworks required huge investments that were beyond the capacity of the owner.
Only the sale of shares in the company to the Stanisławów municipality provided a guarantee for further development of the gasworks, which became a reality in the following years. It is worth noting that Wang's gasworks was one of the first in Europe to use waste oil from paraffin refining, which was widely acknowledged as a pioneering solution.
Wang's knowledge and experience made him an outstanding specialist in the gas industry. For this reason, in 1893 he was appointed an expert of the regional court in Lviv, where he dealt with issues related to the operation of gasworks and the gas industry in general. At the same time, he earned an excellent reputation as an engineer specialising in chemical manufacturing.
Wang's knowledge and experience made him an outstanding specialist in the gas industry. For this reason, in 1893 he was appointed an expert of the regional court in Lviv, where he dealt with issues related to the operation of gasworks and the gas industry in general. At the same time, he earned an excellent reputation as an engineer specialising in chemical manufacturing.
His success in the process of gasification of Stanisławów brought Wang a victory in the elections to the Lviv Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1885, which was the most important economic institution in Eastern Galicia at that time. As an adviser to the Chamber, he served on a committee set up to determine the prices of building materials.
After selling his shares in the gasworks, in the mid-1880s, he built and then ran a factory for chemical products in Zniesienie near Lviv. The exact name of his company was: "Fabryka wytworów chemicznych i nawozowych spółki komandytowej Juliana Wanga we Lwowie" [Factory of Chemical and Fertilizer Products of Julian Wang Limited Partnership in Lviv]. The company's headquarters were located in Lviv on Sykstuska street (now Petra Doroshenka), and later in a building at Akademicka 5 (now Taras Shevchenko Ave).
After selling his shares in the gasworks, in the mid-1880s, he built and then ran a factory for chemical products in Zniesienie near Lviv. The exact name of his company was: "Fabryka wytworów chemicznych i nawozowych spółki komandytowej Juliana Wanga we Lwowie" [Factory of Chemical and Fertilizer Products of Julian Wang Limited Partnership in Lviv]. The company's headquarters were located in Lviv on Sykstuska street (now Petra Doroshenka), and later in a building at Akademicka 5 (now Taras Shevchenko Ave).
Wang's company specialised in the production of fertilisers and was considered the most advanced of its kind in Galicia. The top product coming from Wang's factory was bone meal.
After moving to Lviv, Wang became involved in the development of the local chemical industry. In 1897, he co-founded a company registered under the name "Pierwsze galicyjskie Towarzystwo Akcyjne dla przemysłu chemicznego" [First Galician Joint Stock Company for Chemical Industry]. The company's share capital was 600,000 crowns. The company had its own shop in Lviv in a tenement house at 5 Kościuszki street. In 1908, for health reasons, Julian Wang handed over the management of the company to his younger colleagues and took a well-earned retirement. He died in Lviv two years later, at the age of 66.
After moving to Lviv, Wang became involved in the development of the local chemical industry. In 1897, he co-founded a company registered under the name "Pierwsze galicyjskie Towarzystwo Akcyjne dla przemysłu chemicznego" [First Galician Joint Stock Company for Chemical Industry]. The company's share capital was 600,000 crowns. The company had its own shop in Lviv in a tenement house at 5 Kościuszki street. In 1908, for health reasons, Julian Wang handed over the management of the company to his younger colleagues and took a well-earned retirement. He died in Lviv two years later, at the age of 66.
As befitted a man of his time, Julian Wang was deeply involved in social and political affairs. He often supported charitable and scientific institutions.
He was a member the Polytechnic Society of Lviv. From 1886, he was a member of the Lviv District Council. From 1881 to 1882, he financed and supported the publication of the magazine Głos Stanislawowski. The motto of the magazine's editors was: "Truth and work". Its content was patriotic, but also political and socio-economic.
He was a member the Polytechnic Society of Lviv. From 1886, he was a member of the Lviv District Council. From 1881 to 1882, he financed and supported the publication of the magazine Głos Stanislawowski. The motto of the magazine's editors was: "Truth and work". Its content was patriotic, but also political and socio-economic.
