Mikhail Kazimir Ahinski
(1730 - 1800 гг.)

One of the most famous representatives of the Ahinski family, a great Lithuanian hetman, one of the pretenders to the crown of Rzeczpospolita (Polish Commonwealth). He was member of the Bar Confederacy (Konfederacja barska); he traveled across Europe for some time; in 1775 he returned to Belarus, where he settled in his estate.

He was painter and splendid musician, creator of a number of polonaises and other musical compositions, author of poems, fables and satire that were published in several editions. Being a statesman of Slonim, he showed himself as a fundraiser and patron of arts. The so-called Ahinski canal connecting the rivers Yaselda and Shchara was dug up thanks to his efforts. He also contributed to construction of roads in the boglands: from Slonim to Pinsk and from Pinsk to Valyn. In Slonim, he founded and constructed manufactories on a large scale; a printing-house was also built there, where his own works were published. An opera theater and a choir were also set up, where outstanding actors, singers, musicians and painters used to be invited.