“Remember me when the night fades,
When into the golden expanse,
Above the mouth of the Uskalika river,
The evening glow submerges…”

This ranks as perhaps one of the most famous love poems of Tomasz Zan (1796–1855). A co-founder of the Philomath Society of Vilnius, he is primarily remembered as the spiritual leader of the prisoners confined in “Konrad’s cell” in the third part of Mickiewicz’s Forefathers’ Eve. As well as a poet, he was also a naturalist, and active member of student associations, such as the Radiant Union, the Philaret Association, and the Vilnius Masonic lodge “School of Socrates.” It was during the course of his studies at the Imperial University of Vilnius that he met Adam Mickiewicz, who was later to immortalize his friend in his own Romantic drama.

Zan’s activism attracted the attention of the Tsarist authorities, who first imprisoned him in Orenburg, later on sentencing him to exile, where he was fated to spend thirteen years (1824–1837). In spite of everything, Zan did not lose faith in his abilities, and his talent was recognized.In 1829, he was to become an assistant to the renowned scientist Alexander von Humboldt, under whose supervision he carried out meteorological research. He was also the organizer of numerous scientific expeditions and, together with Aleksander Chodźko (a friend of Mickiewicz), founded a historical and natural history museum in Orenburg. To this day, the museum has preserved manuscripts of Zan’s geological maps and other works. Following his return from exile and a stay in Vilnius, Zan settled on his newly purchased estate in Kochaczyn, where he would later pass away due to meningitis.