Adrien Lachenal
{{Short description|Swiss politician and Jurist}}
File:Tombe d'Adrien Lachenal, cimetière des Rois, Genève.jpg
Adrien Lachenal (19 May 1849 in Geneva – 29 June 1918) was a Swiss politician and Jurist. He was president of the Swiss Confederation in 1896.
Married to Anne Louise Eggly in 1878, he had four sons. He was affiliated to the Free Democratic Party. He was a Freemason,{{cite web | url = https://freimaurerei.ch/en/famous-personalities/ | title = Famous personalities | language = en, fr, de, it | website = Grand Lodge Alpina of Switzerland | archive-url = https://archive.today/20171106134634/https://freimaurerei.ch/en/famous-personalities/ | archive-date = November 6, 2017 | url-status = live | access-date = March 17, 2019 | df = mdy-all }} and belonged to the Masonic lodge "Fidélité et Prudence" in Geneva.{{Cite web|url=http://fidelite-prudence.ch/personnalites-f-p/462-lachenal-adrien|title=Fidélité et Prudence - Lachenal Adrien|website=fidelite-prudence.ch|language=fr-fr|access-date=2017-09-15}} Lachenal is buried at the Cimetière des Rois, Geneva.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ville-geneve.ch/plan-ville/centres-funeraires-cimetieres/cimetiere-rois-plainpalais/|title=Cimetière de Plainpalais|website=www.ville-geneve.ch|language=fr|access-date=2017-09-15}}
Career and politics
Adrien Lachenal was an outstanding speaker and lawyer, and he became known through defensive mandates in awe-inspiring trials. From 1885 to 1892 he was a substitute judge at the canton of Geneva. His military career led him to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. His nephew and later President of the Grand Council Paul Lachenal joined him in his lawfirm. He was also the chairman of the Military Court of Cassation. In 1880 Lachenal was elected to the Grand Council (Grand Conseil), to which he belonged until 1892. Soon he was one of the most influential politicians of the radical faction. Over time, he turned to a policy of reconciliation. His commitment to social policy finally led to the formation of an alliance with the socialists. In 1881, the Grand Council elected Lachenal into the Council of States. there he spoke in particular on topics such as military, customs and finance. After the parliamentary elections in 1884, he moved to the National Council where he was the President in 1885 and 1891.
He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland{{Cite web|url=http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/d/D3874.php|title=Lachenal, Adrien|last=GL|first=Martine Piguet /|website=HLS-DHS-DSS.CH|language=de|access-date=2017-09-15}} on 15 December 1892 and handed over office on 31 December 1899. In 1896 he was elected{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/146447962/?terms=adrien%2BLachenal|title=vice president Lachenal elected to highest office|date=1895-12-12|work=Evening Star|access-date=2017-09-15}} President of the Swiss Confederation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/151162091/?terms=adrien%2BLachenal|title=The president of Switzerland|date=1896-05-14|work=The Leader Courier|access-date=2017-09-15}}
During his time in office he held the following departments:
- Department of Foreign Affairs (1893–1895)
- Political Department as President of the Confederation (1896)
- Department of Trade, Industry and Agriculture (1897)
- Department of Home Affairs (1898–1899){{Cite web|url=https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/members-of-the-federal-council/adrien-lachenal.html.html|title=Adrien Lachenal|last=Council|first=The Federal|website=www.admin.ch|language=en|access-date=2017-09-15}}
Rue Adrien-Lachenal in Geneva and Avenue Adrien-Lachenal in Versoix are named after him.
External links
- {{Swiss Federal Councillor|adrien-lachenal}}
- {{HDS|3874}}
- {{Parliament.ch|2554}}
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{{succession box | before = Eduard Müller | title = President of the National Council | years = 1891/1892 | after = Albert Brosi}}
{{succession box | before = Numa Droz | title = Member of the Swiss Federal Council | years = 1892–1899 | after = Robert Comtesse}}
{{succession box | before = Arthur Hoffmann | title = President of the Swiss Council of States | years = 1903/1904 | after = Emil Isler}}
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References
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Category:Foreign ministers of Switzerland
Category:Free Democratic Party of Switzerland politicians
Category:Members of the Council of States (Switzerland)
Category:Members of the Federal Council (Switzerland)
Category:Members of the National Council (Switzerland)
Category:Politicians from Geneva
Category:Presidents of the Council of States (Switzerland)
Category:Presidents of the National Council (Switzerland)
Category:Swiss military officers
Category:University of Geneva alumni
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