Paul Eyschen
Encyclopedia
Paul Eyschen was a Luxembourg
ish 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.
The son of Charles-Gérard Eyschen
, a former Director-General for Justice, Eyschen was born in Diekirch
, in northern Luxembourg, on 9 September 1841. Eyschen graduated in 1860 from the Athénée de Luxembourg
. Eyschen became a lawyer
after studying Law in Bonn
and Paris
. He was admitted to the bar on 9 November 1865.
At the elections of 12 June 1866, Eyschen was elected to Chamber of Deputies
, representing the canton
of Wiltz. However, he was not yet 25 years old on the day of the vote, as required by the constitution
. His election victory was first annulled by the Chamber on the initiative of Félix de Blochausen, but when the now-vacant seat was put up again for election on 10 November, he won it back and, being 25, he kept it.
In 1875, he was appointed Chargé d'Affaires
to the German Empire
, in which capacity he served until 1888.
On 7 July 1876, Eyschen emulated his father by becoming Director-General for Justice, a position he held until 1888, when, upon the resignation of Édouard Thilges, Eyschen was appointed Prime Minister. For the following 27 years, Eyschen dominated Luxembourgian political life, holding sway over a succession of monarchs
and overseeing an era of economic resurgence and the end of the personal union with the Netherlands
.
Eyschen died, whilst still in office, on 11 October 1915, one year into the German occupation
during the First World War
. He was succeeded by his long-term Director-General for Finances and ally, Mathias Mongenast.
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...
ish politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. He was the eighth Prime Minister of Luxembourg, serving for twenty-seven years, from 22 September 1888 until his death, on 11 October 1915.
The son of Charles-Gérard Eyschen
Charles-Gérard Eyschen
Charles-Gérard Eyschen was a Luxembourgian 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...
, a former Director-General for Justice, Eyschen was born 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....
, in northern Luxembourg, on 9 September 1841. Eyschen graduated in 1860 from the Athénée de Luxembourg
Athénée de Luxembourg
The Athénée de Luxembourg , is a high school in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It's commonly called Stater Kolléisch or De Kolléisch, and is the nation's oldest high school.-Brief history:...
. Eyschen became a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
after studying Law in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He was admitted to the bar on 9 November 1865.
At the elections of 12 June 1866, Eyschen was elected to 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....
, representing the canton
Cantons of Luxembourg
||The districts of Luxembourg are divided into 12 cantons. These cantons are subdivided into 116 communes. The cantons, listed by district, include:Diekirch District*Clervaux *Diekirch *Redange *Vianden *Wiltz Grevenmacher District...
of Wiltz. However, he was not yet 25 years old on the day of the vote, as required by the 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...
. His election victory was first annulled by the Chamber on the initiative of Félix de Blochausen, but when the now-vacant seat was put up again for election on 10 November, he won it back and, being 25, he kept it.
In 1875, he was appointed Chargé d'Affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
to the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
, in which capacity he served until 1888.
On 7 July 1876, Eyschen emulated his father by becoming Director-General for Justice, a position he held until 1888, when, upon the resignation of Édouard Thilges, Eyschen was appointed Prime Minister. For the following 27 years, Eyschen dominated Luxembourgian political life, holding sway over a succession of monarchs
Grand Duke of Luxembourg
The Grand Duke of Luxembourg is the sovereign monarch and head of state of Luxembourg. Luxembourg has been a grand duchy since 15 March 1815, when it was elevated from a duchy when placed in personal union with the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
and overseeing an era of economic resurgence and the end of the personal union with the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
Eyschen died, whilst still in office, on 11 October 1915, one year into the German occupation
German occupation of Luxembourg in World War I
The German occupation of Luxembourg in World War I was the first of two military occupations of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg by Germany in the twentieth century. From August 1914 until the end of World War I in November 1918, Luxembourg was under full occupation by the German Empire...
during the First World War
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...
. He was succeeded by his long-term Director-General for Finances and ally, Mathias Mongenast.