Franciszek Czarnowski was one of the main organizers of the Poviat People's Council, which was established in Gniew on November 18, 1918. In June 1919, Franciszek Czarnowski, who was described as "a zealous Pole and tireless activist," was elected the Polish Government Delegate at the Landratura (starosty) in Kwidzyn. On 7 July 1919, until January 1920, Gniew and Ziemia Gniewska became a mini-state headed by Franciszek Czarnowski, commonly known as the "President of the Republic". In 1920, the Gniew poviat was established. F. Czarnowski became the first starost.
