Born on 11^th January 1949 in Lidzbark Warmiński, where his parents had moved from Vilnius.

A democratic opposition activist. In May 1968, as a student at the Secondary School of Fine Arts in Gdynia, was arrested on charges of printing and distributing fliers in support of student protests.

In 1975, graduated in history from the Faculty of Humanities at Lublin Catholic University. During the 1970s was a co-organizer of democratic opposition in Lublin and along the Baltic Coast. In 1976, participated in the campaign to assist protesting workers in Radom and became a member of Workers' Defence Committee. In 1977-1978, was a co-organizer of the Free Trade Unions of the Baltic Coast. Was a co-editor of Robotnik and Robotnik Wybrzeża opposition newspapers.

Was among organizers of the August 1980 strike in Gdańsk Shipyards and co-author of the list of striking workers' demands. After the imposition of martial law, headed the second strike at Gdańsk Shipyards in December 1981. Spent more than four years in hiding from the authorities and working for the outlawed Solidarity. Between 1984 and 1986 - member of the Provisional Solidarity Coordination Committee and then Provisional Solidarity Trade Union Council. Arrested and imprisoned. Participated in strikes held at Gdańsk Shipyards in May and August 1988. Since 1989 - member of the Presidium of the Solidarity Trade Union National Committee, and, in 1990-1991, its Deputy Chairman.

Between 1991 and 2001 - Deputy to the Sejm. In the First Term Sejm representing the Solidarity Trade Union, then (since 1993), in the Second and Third Term Sejm - the Democratic Union (later the Freedom Union). In the First Term Sejm presided the Solidarity Trade Union Parliamentary Club and was chairman of a special committee investigating the consequences of martial law. In Second Term Sejm - deputy chairman and then chairman of the Special Services Committee; deputy chairman of a special committee investigating the legality of actions taken by State organs with respect to a motion submitted on 19^th December 1995 by the Minister of Internal Affairs to the Chief Military Prosecutor's Office to initiate a preparatory proceeding in the matter of a crime committed against State security and the realization of that motion. During his three terms in office at the Sejm, was a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, National and Ethnic Minorities Committee, Constitutional Committee of the National Assembly, Special Committee examining constitutional provisions of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and provisions introducing the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Administration and Internal Affairs Committee,

Constitutional Responsibility Committee, and Special Committee on the Labour Code. As speaker of the Sixth Term Senate headed the Parliamentary Team on Co-operation with Non-governmental Organizations and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Sejm and the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and Werkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

Between 1997 and 2000 - Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration (in charge of the police force). Between 2001 and 2005 - Deputy Marshal and Member of the Board of Management of Pomeranian Province.

No political party affiliation.

Widower - his spouse Alina Pienkowska (1952-2002) was an opposition and Solidarity activist, later a member of the Second Term Senate. Two children.