Graduate in History, Humanities Faculty, Gdansk University. Formerly: participated in creation of Students' Committee of Solidarity, established as reaction to Stanislaw Pyjas' murder by the Security Service; co-operated with Free Trade Unions of coastal region, organizing self-study groups and publishing press and literature outside official censorship; Co-Founder, Independent Students' Union, Gdansk; Head of Solidarity movement, Maritime Publishing House; Journalist, Samorzadnosc, the Solidarity weekly; seven years as worker in Swietlik co-operative; Co-Founder, Liberal and Democratic Congress; 1994, Deputy Chairmen, Freedom Union, created by amalgamation of KLD and Democratic Union; 1997, elected Senator representing UW; Deputy Speaker, Senate of fourth term; 2001-05, Deputy Speaker of Sejm of fourth term; Member of Parliament, the Sejm, in first, fourth, fifth and sixth term; since 2003, Chairman, Civic Platform; since 2007, current position.