Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura KoÅ ciuszko ( ; 1746 -- 1817 ) was a Polish , Lithuanian and Belarussian national hero , general and a leader of the KoÅ ciuszko Uprising ( which bears his name ) against the Russian Empire . Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura KoÅ ciuszko ( ; February 4 , 1746 -- October 15 , 1817 ) was a Polishâ `` Lithuanian general and military leader during the KoÅ ciuszko Uprising .