[1][2] It was intended to provide an élite education for the sons of Magnates of Poland and Lithuania, and other leading Szlachta families, likely to run the country or represent it abroad.

[4] With the Polish Enlightenment and a changing political environment, the order had seen the urgency of preparing youth for the future and planned a school in the capital since 1737, but did not possess the funds to bring it to fruition.

Not until the intervention of Jan Ciecierski SJ (1721–1760) with Maciej Grabowski, Crown Treasurer, did a sufficient legacy become available, with his death in 1750.

Under the skilled management of rector, Karol Wyrwicz SJ, (1760–1777) and the patronage of king Stanisław August Poniatowski, the teaching programme continued four years beyond the suppression of the Society of Jesus, until 1777, when its funding was abruptly diverted and it closed its doors.

[2] This amounted to hothousing the students from aristocratic and noble houses such as:[2] the Radziwiłł, Łubieński, Ossoliński, Tyszkiewicz, Chłapowski, Ożarowski, Rzewuski and Ogiński families.