Pierre Brasseur (Luxembourg)
Encyclopedia
Pierre Brasseur was a Luxembourg
ian entrepreneur, businessman, and mining magnate, being involved in founding a number of industrial concerns in southern Luxembourg. Amongst them was one of the steel companies that would become ARBED
, and, after many mergers and consolidations, Arcelor Mittal.
Pierre was a member of the Brasseur family
, born the eleventh son of Alexis Brasseur in Esch-sur-Alzette
. Along with a number of other associates, Pierre founded the Society for the Extraction of Minerals of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg . in 1861. The following year, he was awarded a concession
to mine an area of 77 hectare (0.297298662116252 sq mi) near Rumelange
, in Luxembourg's Red Lands
. He was appointed notary
in Esch-sur-Alzette in 1864.
His success allowed him to establish in 1870 the Society of Blast Furnaces of Luxembourg , along with twenty-six other subscribers. He was one of the members of the first administrative council of the company, which directed the company until 1874. The company opened two blast furnace
s in Esch in 1872 and 1873. In about 1874, he left the administrative council. However, his name would forever be attached to the furnaces in Esch. After mergers with German operations, and expansion in Esch-sur-Alzette and into Alsace-Lorraine
, the company would become the second-largest industrial business in the Zollverein
(after Krupp
). In 1920, the firm would become ARBED
, which would form a major part of Arcelor Mittal, the world's largest steel-maker.
In 1875, he was appointed notary in Differdange
. Brasseur was appointed director of mines in Dudelange, which were to become the Society of Blast Furnaces and Forges of Dudelange. In 1894, he founded the first cement
company in Luxembourg, at Rumelange, which became the Society of Blast Furnaces of Rumelange in 1897. He died in 7 February 1918.
On 17 November 1864, he married Hélène Wurth, daughter of François-Xavier Wurth-Paquet
, who had been a famous Luxembourgian politician and Administrator-General for Luxembourg. Pierre's family played a key role in politics itself. His son, Xavier
, was a Socialist member of the Chamber of Deputies
(1902–12). Pierre's younger brother, Dominique
, was also a deputy
(1866–99) and mayor of Luxembourg City (1891–94). Dominique's son, and Pierre's nephew, Robert
, was a deputy (1899–1925) and founder of the Liberal League
.
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 entrepreneur, businessman, and mining magnate, being involved in founding a number of industrial concerns in southern Luxembourg. Amongst them was one of the steel companies that would become ARBED
Arbed
ARBED was a major Luxembourg-based steel and iron producing company. Created in 1911 after the merger of three steel producing companies, ARBED was a major actor in the economic history of the Grand-Duchy until it merged in 2002 with two other European steel companies to create Arcelor.- Origins ...
, and, after many mergers and consolidations, Arcelor Mittal.
Pierre was a member of the Brasseur family
Brasseur family
The Brasseur family is a family in Luxembourg that was prominent in politics and industry in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The head of the household was Alexis Brasseur, who had thirteen children by two wives...
, born the eleventh son of Alexis Brasseur in Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette is a commune with city status, in south-western Luxembourg. It is the country's second city, and its second-most populous commune, with a population of 29,853 people...
. Along with a number of other associates, Pierre founded the Society for the Extraction of Minerals of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg . in 1861. The following year, he was awarded a concession
Concession (contract)
A concession is a business operated under a contract or license associated with a degree of exclusivity in business within a certain geographical area. For example, sports arenas or public parks may have concession stands. Many department stores contain numerous concessions operated by other...
to mine an area of 77 hectare (0.297298662116252 sq mi) near Rumelange
Rumelange
Rumelange is a commune with city status in south-western Luxembourg, on the border with France., the town of Rumelange, which lies in the east of the commune, has a population of 4,818. It is also the site of some of the underground iron mines no longer in operation...
, in Luxembourg's Red Lands
Red Lands
The Red Lands form a geographic region in southern and south-western Luxembourg. They are called this way for their red iron-laden earth.The Red Lands roughly correspond with the southern part of the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette, along the border with France...
. He was appointed notary
Civil law notary
Civil-law notaries, or Latin notaries, are lawyers of noncontentious private civil law who draft, take, and record legal instruments for private parties, provide legal advice and give attendance in person, and are vested as public officers with the authentication power of the State...
in Esch-sur-Alzette in 1864.
His success allowed him to establish in 1870 the Society of Blast Furnaces of Luxembourg , along with twenty-six other subscribers. He was one of the members of the first administrative council of the company, which directed the company until 1874. The company opened two blast furnace
Blast furnace
A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally iron.In a blast furnace, fuel and ore and flux are continuously supplied through the top of the furnace, while air is blown into the bottom of the chamber, so that the chemical reactions...
s in Esch in 1872 and 1873. In about 1874, he left the administrative council. However, his name would forever be attached to the furnaces in Esch. After mergers with German operations, and expansion in Esch-sur-Alzette and into Alsace-Lorraine
Alsace-Lorraine
The Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine was a territory created by the German Empire in 1871 after it annexed most of Alsace and the Moselle region of Lorraine following its victory in the Franco-Prussian War. The Alsatian part lay in the Rhine Valley on the west bank of the Rhine River and east...
, the company would become the second-largest industrial business in the Zollverein
Zollverein
thumb|upright=1.2|The German Zollverein 1834–1919blue = Prussia in 1834 grey= Included region until 1866yellow= Excluded after 1866red = Borders of the German Union of 1828 pink= Relevant others until 1834...
(after Krupp
Krupp
The Krupp family , a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th...
). In 1920, the firm would become ARBED
Arbed
ARBED was a major Luxembourg-based steel and iron producing company. Created in 1911 after the merger of three steel producing companies, ARBED was a major actor in the economic history of the Grand-Duchy until it merged in 2002 with two other European steel companies to create Arcelor.- Origins ...
, which would form a major part of Arcelor Mittal, the world's largest steel-maker.
In 1875, he was appointed notary in Differdange
Differdange
Differdange is a commune with city status in south-western Luxembourg. Differdange is an industrial city that was home to much of Luxembourg's steel production, and lies near the borders with Belgium and France...
. Brasseur was appointed director of mines in Dudelange, which were to become the Society of Blast Furnaces and Forges of Dudelange. In 1894, he founded the first cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
company in Luxembourg, at Rumelange, which became the Society of Blast Furnaces of Rumelange in 1897. He died in 7 February 1918.
On 17 November 1864, he married Hélène Wurth, daughter of François-Xavier Wurth-Paquet
François-Xavier Wurth-Paquet
François-Xavier Wurth-Paquet was a Luxembourgian politician, jurist, and archaeologist. He was elected to represent the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette on the Constituent Assembly, in 1848. An Orangist, he served in the cabinet of Charles-Mathias Simons as Administrator-General for Justice for three...
, who had been a famous Luxembourgian politician and Administrator-General for Luxembourg. Pierre's family played a key role in politics itself. His son, Xavier
Xavier Brasseur
François Xavier Brasseur was a Luxembourgian politician and jurist.Brasseur was educated at the Athénée de Luxembourg, graduating in 1884. Afterwards, he studied law, graduating on 17 June 1890, and began practising in 1894. He worked for his uncle Alexis's steelworks as legal counsel...
, was a Socialist member of 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....
(1902–12). Pierre's younger brother, Dominique
Dominique Brasseur
Dominique Alexis Brasseur-Brasseur was a Luxembourgian politician and jurist. He served as Mayor of Luxembourg City between 1891 and 1894....
, was also a deputy
Deputy (legislator)
A deputy is a legislator in many countries, particularly those with legislatures styled as a 'Chamber of Deputies' or 'National Assembly'.-List of countries:This is an list of countries using the term 'deputy' or one of its cognates....
(1866–99) and mayor of Luxembourg City (1891–94). Dominique's son, and Pierre's nephew, Robert
Robert Brasseur
Robert Brasseur was a Luxembourgian politician, jurist, and journalist.Brasseur was educated at the Athénée de Luxembourg, before studying law at University of Strasbourg and in Paris. While in Paris, he became a bibliophile, starting a library to which he would continue to contribute over the...
, was a deputy (1899–1925) and founder of the Liberal League
Liberal League (Luxembourg)
The Liberal League was a political party in Luxembourg between 1904 and 1925. It was the indirect predecessor of the Democratic Party , which has been one of the three major parties in Luxembourg since the Second World War....
.