Charles-Gérard Eyschen
Encyclopedia
Charles-Gérard Eyschen was a Luxembourg
ian politician and jurist. An Orangist
, Eyschen served in the cabinet of Charles-Mathias Simons
as Director-General for Justice.
Born in Baschleiden
in 1800, Eyschen became a lawyer. In 1826, he earned his doctorate in law from the University of Liège
, and in 1829, he obtained a doctorate in philosophy, also at Liège. He became a judge on the Court of First Instance in Diekirch
, but resigned the following year, when he moved to Luxembourg City. He returned to the judiciary in 1832, becoming judge on the Court of First Instance in Luxembourg City. He became President of the Arrondisement Tribunal in Diekirch in 1840, and transferred to the same (but more prestigious) position in Luxembourg City in 1842. He was appointed to the judiciary's supreme court
, the Superior Court of Justice, in 1843.
He failed to be elected to the Constituent Assembly
that drafted the grand duchy's first Constitution
in 1848. However, he was subsequently elected to the Chamber of Deputies
, which the Constitution established and which succeeded the Constituent Assembly, representing Echternach from 1848 to 1854 and Clervaux from 1854. Eyschen became a minister as Director-General for Justice in the administration of Charles-Mathias Simons
. He played a crucial role in the so-called 'Coup of 1856
', in which the King-Grand Duke
greatly expanded his power and established the Council of State
. The following year, Eyschen left the ministry, and returned to being a judge.
Eyschen died two years later, after a long illness. He married Marie-Christine Wurth (1804 – 1846) in 1832, who had five children by Eyschen before her death. Two of these children died in infancy, but one, Paul Eyschen
, would be Prime Minister for twenty-seven years. He remarried to Wurth's cousin, Jeanne-Françoise Wurth (1809 – 1883), in 1850.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
ian politician and jurist. An Orangist
Orangism (Luxembourg)
Orangism was a movement in the 19th century Grand Duchy of Luxembourg favouring the personal union of the Netherlands and Luxembourg under the House of Orange-Nassau. Made up of many notable figures, mainly nobles and Roman Catholic clergy, they were moderate liberals or conservative-liberals and...
, Eyschen served in the cabinet of Charles-Mathias Simons
Charles-Mathias Simons
Charles-Mathias Simons was a Luxembourgian politician and jurist. He was the third Prime Minister of Luxembourg, serving for seven years, from 1853 until 1860.-Ezternal links:...
as Director-General for Justice.
Born in Baschleiden
Baschleiden
Baschleiden is a village in the commune of Boulaide, in north-western Luxembourg. , the village has a population of 176.It was the birthplace of Charles-Gérard Eyschen , who became Director-General for Justice.-References:...
in 1800, Eyschen became a lawyer. In 1826, he earned his doctorate in law from the University of Liège
University of Liège
The University of Liège , in Liège, Wallonia, Belgium, is a major public university in the French Community of Belgium. Its official language is French.-History:...
, and in 1829, he obtained a doctorate in philosophy, also at Liège. He became a judge on the Court of First Instance in Diekirch
Diekirch
Diekirch is a commune with city status in north-eastern Luxembourg, capital city of the canton Diekirch and the district of Diekirch. The city is situated on the banks of the Sauer river....
, but resigned the following year, when he moved to Luxembourg City. He returned to the judiciary in 1832, becoming judge on the Court of First Instance in Luxembourg City. He became President of the Arrondisement Tribunal in Diekirch in 1840, and transferred to the same (but more prestigious) position in Luxembourg City in 1842. He was appointed to the judiciary's supreme court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
, the Superior Court of Justice, in 1843.
He failed to be elected to the Constituent Assembly
Constituent Assembly of Luxembourg
The Constituent Assembly of Luxembourg was a constituent assembly called in 1848 in Luxembourg to write and pass a new national constitution.The Grand Duchy had been administratively separate from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands since the Belgian Revolution in 1830, but remained in personal...
that drafted the grand duchy's first Constitution
Constitution of Luxembourg
The Constitution of Luxembourg is the supreme law of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The modern constitution was adopted on 17 October 1868.Whilst the constitution of 1868 marked a radical change in Luxembourg's constitutional settlement, it was technically an amendment of the original constitution...
in 1848. However, he was subsequently elected to the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg
The Chamber of Deputies , abbreviated to the Chamber, is the unicameral national legislature of Luxembourg. 'Krautmaart' is sometimes used as a metonym for the Chamber, after the square on which the Hôtel de la Chambre is located....
, which the Constitution established and which succeeded the Constituent Assembly, representing Echternach from 1848 to 1854 and Clervaux from 1854. Eyschen became a minister as Director-General for Justice in the administration of Charles-Mathias Simons
Charles-Mathias Simons
Charles-Mathias Simons was a Luxembourgian politician and jurist. He was the third Prime Minister of Luxembourg, serving for seven years, from 1853 until 1860.-Ezternal links:...
. He played a crucial role in the so-called 'Coup of 1856
Luxembourg Coup of 1856
The Luxembourg Coup of 1856, also called the Putsch of 1856, was a reactionary revision of Luxembourg's constitution on 27 November 1856. Whilst not a true coup d'etat or revolution, its detractors dubbed it a 'royal coup', as the King-Grand Duke, William III, greatly expanded his powers, and the...
', in which the King-Grand Duke
King-Grand Duke
The designation of King-Grand Duke was held by the three monarchs of the House of Orange-Nassau that ruled Luxembourg and the Netherlands in personal union, between 1815 and 1890...
greatly expanded his power and established the Council of State
Council of State of Luxembourg
The Council of State is an institution in Luxembourg that advises the national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies. Until 1 January 1997, it was also the country's supreme administrative court, but this function was ceded to the newly created Administrative Tribunal and Administrative Court.The...
. The following year, Eyschen left the ministry, and returned to being a judge.
Eyschen died two years later, after a long illness. He married Marie-Christine Wurth (1804 – 1846) in 1832, who had five children by Eyschen before her death. Two of these children died in infancy, but one, Paul Eyschen
Paul Eyschen
Paul Eyschen was a Luxembourgish politician, statesman, lawyer, and diplomat. He was the eighth Prime Minister of Luxembourg, serving for twenty-seven years, from 22 September 1888 until his death, on 11 October 1915....
, would be Prime Minister for twenty-seven years. He remarried to Wurth's cousin, Jeanne-Françoise Wurth (1809 – 1883), in 1850.