Count Stanisław Szczęsny Feliks Potocki (; 1751–1805), of the Piława coat of arms, known as Szczęsny Potocki
was a member of the Polish szlachta and a military commander of the forces of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and then Poland. Knight of the Order of the White Eagle, awarded in August 1775.
He was named Great Chorąży of the Crown in 1774–1780, voivode of Ruthenian Voivodeship in 1782–1791, Great Lieutenant General of the Crown since 1784, General of Artillery of the Crown in 1789–1792, starost bełski, hrubieszowski, sokalski, hajsyński, zwinogrodzki, Marshal of the Targowica Confederation in 1792. He plotted with others against the state, was convicted of treason and sentenced to death in his absence. He died in ignominy.
Biography
Early life
He was the son of Franciszek Salezy Potocki, Voivode and Governor of Polish Kyiv, of the Tulczyn line of the family. He entered the public service, and owing to the influence of his relations became grand standard-bearer of the Crown at the age of twenty-two. After the death of Prince August Aleksander Czartoryski in 1782, King Stanisław II Augustus appointed him the Voivode of Ruthenia. In 1784, he purchased the rank of a colonel from bankrupted Voivode of Kyiv, Stempkowski and soon became a lieutenant-general in the Royal Army.
A "Great" nobleman
thumb|right|200px|Portrait of Potocki by [[Johann Baptist von Lampi the Elder]]
He was a great magnate, grandly ruling in his vast estates in the eastern parts of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, known as the Kresy. His annual income was over 3 million zloties.
Family
The father of numerous children, one of his daughters, Olga, married Lev Naryshkin.
Time of the Partitions
His scheme was to divide Poland into an oligarchy of autonomous grandees exercising supreme power in rotation (in fact a perpetual interregnum).