Born 22 April, 1957 in Gdańsk, Poland.
Ethnicity: Kashubian, West Slavic ethnic group of north-central Poland.
1980: graduated from Faculty of Languages and History at University of Gdańsk.
Engaged in political activity when a student by cooperating with independent trade unions, was arrested several times.
1980: one of the founders of the Independent Polish Students' Association, head of the Solidarity anti-communist social movement at Gdansk's Sea Publishing House.
During martial law engaged in Solidarity oppositional activities, published ‘Przegląd Polityczny' (Political Bulletin) clandestine bulletin which united liberals across the Polish Baltic coast.
During the 1980s worked as ironworker at Swětlik work cooperative.
1989: chairman of the Liberal Congress, later the Liberal Democratic Congress.
During early 1990s worked as chief editor of Gazeta Gdanska.
1991-1993: member of the Polish Parliament (Sejm), head of the Liberal Democratic Congress faction.
1994: one of the vice-chairmen of the Freedom Union (Unia Wolnosci), after the coalition was formed of the Liberal Democratic Congress and the Democratic Union.
1997-2001: Vice Marshal of the Senate.
2001-2005: Vice Marshal of the Sejm.
2001: was among founders of the Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska) party.
Since 2003: chairman of the Civic Platform party.
2003-2005: head of the Civic Platform party faction in Sejm.
October 2007: Civic Platform won parliamentary election with 42% of the votes.
November 16, 2007: took office as Prime Minister of Poland.
Fan of soccer and history. Author of several books on Gdansk.
Married, with a daughter and a son.