Adolphe Max
Encyclopedia
Adolphe Eugène Jean Henri Max (Brussels
, 30 December 1869–6 November 1939) was a Belgian
liberal politician and Mayor of Brussels from 1909 until his death.
He graduated in law at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles
, and entered the legal profession, besides doing journalistic work. When he was 25 years old, he was appointed provincial counsel for Brabant
, and became a communal counsel in 1903. After he had worked as a magistrate, he was elected burgomaster
of Brussels on 6 December 1909.
During the German
occupation of Brussels
in the First World War, Max refused to cooperate with the occupying forces. As a result he was arrested and held in captivity, first at Namur
, and then at Glatz
, until he escaped on 13 November 1918. Charles Lemonnier
was acting mayor during his captivity. On his return to Brussels he was greeted as a hero.
In 1919 he was elected to the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, where he campaigned for universal adult suffrage, a goal not achieved until after his death.
Among the monuments from Max's time in office as mayor of Brussels are parts of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
and the Heysel
exhibition park built for the Expo
of 1935, begun to mark the centenary of the Belgian Revolution
of 1830.
Adolphe Max was an honorary Minister of State
and a member of the Institut de France
. Boulevard Adolphe Max, the main avenue of the city of Brussels, is named after him. There is also a Place Adolphe Max in the 9th arrondissement of Paris that was named for him in January, 1940, shortly after his death.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, 30 December 1869–6 November 1939) was a Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
liberal politician and Mayor of Brussels from 1909 until his death.
He graduated in law at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles
Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has 21,000 students, 29% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.-Name:...
, and entered the legal profession, besides doing journalistic work. When he was 25 years old, he was appointed provincial counsel for Brabant
Province of Brabant
Brabant was a province of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1815 until 1830 and a province of Belgium from 1830 until 1995, when it was split into the Dutch-speaking Flemish Brabant, the French-speaking Walloon Brabant and the bilingual Brussels-Capital Region.-United Kingdom of the...
, and became a communal counsel in 1903. After he had worked as a magistrate, he was elected burgomaster
Burgomaster
Burgomaster is the English form of various terms in or derived from Germanic languages for the chief magistrate or chairman of the executive council of a sub-national level of administration...
of Brussels on 6 December 1909.
During the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
occupation of Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in the First World War, Max refused to cooperate with the occupying forces. As a result he was arrested and held in captivity, first at Namur
Namur (city)
Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
, and then at Glatz
Glatz
Glatz can refer to :Places* Glatz, German name of a city in Lower Silesia, since 1945 Kłodzko, Poland* Landkreis Glatz, Prussian/German county 1816–1945, in the Province of Lower Silesia* Grafschaft Glatz, Duchy of Glatz, since 1348People...
, until he escaped on 13 November 1918. Charles Lemonnier
Charles Lemonnier
Baron Charles Jean Maurice Lemonnier was a Belgian liberal politician and burgomaster of Brussels....
was acting mayor during his captivity. On his return to Brussels he was greeted as a hero.
In 1919 he was elected to the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, where he campaigned for universal adult suffrage, a goal not achieved until after his death.
Among the monuments from Max's time in office as mayor of Brussels are parts of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium , is one of the most famous museums in Belgium.-The museum:...
and the Heysel
Heysel
Heysel or Heizel , is an area in Brussels and may in particular refer to:* Heysel Park, a part of Brussels* Heysel Metro Station, one of the metro stations on line 6 of the Brussels Metro...
exhibition park built for the Expo
Brussels International Exposition (1935)
The Brussels International Exposition of 1935 was held in Heysel Park, Brussels, Belgium from April 27 through November 6, 1935....
of 1935, begun to mark the centenary of the Belgian Revolution
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium....
of 1830.
Adolphe Max was an honorary Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
and a member of the Institut de France
Institut de France
The Institut de France is a French learned society, grouping five académies, the most famous of which is the Académie française.The institute, located in Paris, manages approximately 1,000 foundations, as well as museums and chateaux open for visit. It also awards prizes and subsidies, which...
. Boulevard Adolphe Max, the main avenue of the city of Brussels, is named after him. There is also a Place Adolphe Max in the 9th arrondissement of Paris that was named for him in January, 1940, shortly after his death.
Source
- Grojean, O., Adolphe Max, in : Le Flambeau, I, 1918, nr. 6, p. 178.
- Seyl, A., Un grand citoyen : Adolphe Max, in : Revue de Bruxelles, April 1958, p. III.
- Vierset, A., Adolphe Max, in : Cahiers Historiques, Série IV, 1964, nr. 33, p. 83.
- Cooremans, Lucien, Adolphe Max, bourgmestre des heures tragiques et des heures glorieuses, in : De 1830 à 1958. Douze bourgmestres libéraux ont fait de Bruxelles une des plus prestigieuses capitales, s.l., s.n., s.d., s.p.