Hipolit Ostoja - Lniski was born in 1853 in Dolna Brodnica near Kartuzy. He came from an old Kashubian noble family of the Ostoja coat of arms. He received his secondary school education in Wejherowo, and later in Wałcz. He was one of the founders of the clandestine philomathic organisations ‘Wiec’ and ‘Ul’, which aimed to propagate the Polish language among young people. He then undertook medical studies in Gryfia, and later in Wrocław, graduating with a doctorate in 1880.

He moved to Chojnice in 1881 and began practising medicine here. He was held in high esteem by his patients and colleagues because he was always ready to help the sick, often forgoing payment from the poorest people. He took part in the social life of Chojnice, collaborating with, among others, Dr Jan Karol Łukowicz and Władysław Wolszlegier.

Dr Hipolit's flat was the venue for meetings of the clandestine ‘Mickiewicz’ Philomath Circle, of which he was patron, and which strengthened patriotic attitudes among the youth. His most prominent alumni were Jan Karnowski and Aleksander Majkowski.

After Poland regained independence in 1920. Hipolit Ostoja - Lniski became a member of the Town Council, was a district physician, a member of the Council of the Poznan-Pomeranian Medical Chamber, an honorary member of the Society of Physicians of the Polish State of the Kashubian Region, president of the Physicians' Circle of the Chojnice District.

Towards the end of his life, the President of the Republic of Poland, Ignacy Moscicki, decorated him with the Polonia Restituta Order. In 1930, on the 50th anniversary of his medical work, the University of Wrocław presented him with a renewed doctor's diploma. The Holy Father appointed him a secret chamberlain.

He died on 8 April 1931 in Chojnice, permanently inscribing himself in the history of the most outstanding social workers of our city.