Michael Mayr
Encyclopedia
Michael Mayr was Chancellor of Austria
in the First Austrian Republic
, from November 1920 to June 1921. He was a member of the Christian Social Party, and by profession a historian
.
in Upper Austria
. He studied history and geography at the University of Vienna
and earned a doctorate
in 1890. From 1897 through 1920 he was the director of the Tyrol
State Archives (Tiroler Landesarchives). In 1900 he became a Professor of Modern History at the University of Innsbruck.
Mayr's political career began under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. From 1907 to 1911 he was a member of the Reichsrat
, and from 1908 to 1914 of the Landtag of Tyrol. With the breakup of the Empire at the end of World War I
, Mayr was in 1919 and 1920 a delegate for the Christian Social Party to the national assembly drafting the new Constitution
.
In 1920, Mayr succeeded Karl Renner
as director of the state chancellery (Staatskanzler), as part of a coalition between the Christian Social Party and the Social Democratic Labor Party (SDAPÖ). In November 1920, he became Chancellor (Bundeskanzler) and Foreign Minister
of the country, leading a minority government
of the Christian Social Party. He resigned on 1 June 1921, in response to a referendum that was called in Styria proposing that the state leave Austria and join Germany
.
He died about a year later in Waldneukirchen
.
Chancellor of Austria
The Federal Chancellor is the head of government in Austria. Its deputy is the Vice-Chancellor. Before 1918, the equivalent office was the Minister-President of Austria. The Federal Chancellor is considered to be the most powerful political position in Austrian politics.-Appointment:The...
in the First Austrian Republic
First Austrian Republic
The Republic of Austria encompasses the period of Austrian history following the signing of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye of September 1919, the settlement after the end of World War I which put an end to the Republic of German Austria, continuing up to World War II...
, from November 1920 to June 1921. He was a member of the Christian Social Party, and by profession a historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
.
Life
Mayr was born in AdlwangAdlwang
Adlwang is a municipality in the district of Steyr-Land in Upper Austria, Austria....
in Upper Austria
Upper Austria
Upper Austria is one of the nine states or Bundesländer of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders on Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as on the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg...
. He studied history and geography at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
and earned a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in 1890. From 1897 through 1920 he was the director of the Tyrol
Tyrol (state)
Tyrol is a state or Bundesland, located in the west of Austria. It comprises the Austrian part of the historical region of Tyrol.The state is split into two parts–called North Tyrol and East Tyrol–by a -wide strip of land where the state of Salzburg borders directly on the Italian province of...
State Archives (Tiroler Landesarchives). In 1900 he became a Professor of Modern History at the University of Innsbruck.
Mayr's political career began under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. From 1907 to 1911 he was a member of the Reichsrat
Reichsrat (Austria)
The Imperial Council of Austria from 1867 to 1918 was the parliament of the Cisleithanian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Herrenhaus and the Abgeordnetenhaus...
, and from 1908 to 1914 of the Landtag of Tyrol. With the breakup of the Empire at the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Mayr was in 1919 and 1920 a delegate for the Christian Social Party to the national assembly drafting the new Constitution
Constitution of Austria
The Constitution of Austria is the body of all constitutional law of the Republic of Austria on the federal level. It is split up over many different acts...
.
In 1920, Mayr succeeded Karl Renner
Karl Renner
Karl Renner was an Austrian politician. He was born in Untertannowitz in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and died in Vienna...
as director of the state chancellery (Staatskanzler), as part of a coalition between the Christian Social Party and the Social Democratic Labor Party (SDAPÖ). In November 1920, he became Chancellor (Bundeskanzler) and Foreign Minister
Foreign Minister of Austria
The Foreign Minister of Austria is responsible for handling Austria's foreign policy.-Under the First Austrian Republic:* Victor Adler* Otto Bauer* Karl Renner* Michael Mayr* Johann Schober* Walter Breisky* Leopold Hennet* Alfred Grünberger...
of the country, leading a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
of the Christian Social Party. He resigned on 1 June 1921, in response to a referendum that was called in Styria proposing that the state leave Austria and join Germany
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...
.
He died about a year later in Waldneukirchen
Waldneukirchen
Waldneukirchen is a municipality in the district of Steyr-Land in Upper Austria, Austria.-References:...
.
Writing
- W. Lazius als Geschichtsschreiber Österreichs, 1894 ("W. LaziusWolfgang LaziusWolfgang Laz, better known by his Latinized name Wolfgang Lazius , was an Austrian humanist who worked as a cartographer, historian, and physician....
as Austrian Historian") - "Der Generallandtag der österreichischen Erbländer in Augsburg 1525/26", in: Zeitschrift des Ferdinandeums 3(38), 1894 ("The General State Parliament of the Austrian Hereditary Lands in Augsburg, 1525-26")
- Erinnerungen an A. Hofer, 1899 ("Memories of A. HoferAndreas HoferAndreas Hofer was a Tirolean innkeeper and patriot. He was the leader of a rebellion against Napoleon's forces....
") - Die Beziehungen Deutschlands zu Italien, 1901 ("The Relations of Germany with Italy")
- Der italienische Irredentismus: Sein Entstehen und seine Entwicklung vornehmlich in Tirol, 1917 ("Italian Irredentism: Its Origins and Development Primarily in Tyrol")