Auguste Metz
Encyclopedia
Jean-Antoine Auguste Metz (8 August 1812 – 22 June 1854) was a Luxembourg
ian entrepreneur, politician, and lawyer. He was a major player in the growing steel industry in Luxembourg during the nineteenth century, as well as a leading liberal
member of the Chamber of Deputies
, along with his brothers.
Born in Luxembourg City as the youngest of nine children of Jean Metz, Auguste Metz attended the Athénée de Luxembourg
, before leaving to study law at the University of Paris
in 1833. He gained his licence to practice law in France, but returned to Luxembourg, where he became involved in the steel industry. In 1837, Metz and his brothers Charles
and Norbert
, were given a ten-year lease of the steel mill at Berbourg
. They formed a company, Auguste Metz & Cie, along with Théodore Pescatore
, for the purpose of expanding and redeveloping the site. The company expanded, taking over foundries at Grundhof, in the Red Lands
,, at Eich
, and at Fischbach
.
He first became involved in politics through his opposition to the Third Partition of Luxembourg in 1839.Mersch (1963), p. 564 In 1848, Metz sat on Luxembourg's Constituent Assembly
, and then the first Chamber of Deputies
, elected in 1848 to represent Grevenmacher
. He was targeted in the 1854 election by the Simons
government. He would not live to see the assembly of the new Chamber of Deputies, however, as he died in Eich just eight days after the election, having fallen ill inspecting the foundry at Berbourg, exacerbated by tonsillitis
.
He married Petronille Laeis on 17 August 1841. They had four children, including Léon Metz
, who became a member of the Chamber of Deputies for forty-three years and Mayor of Esch-sur-Alzette for three years.
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, politician, and lawyer. He was a major player in the growing steel industry in Luxembourg during the nineteenth century, as well as a leading liberal
Classical liberalism
Classical liberalism is the philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets....
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....
, along with his brothers.
Born in Luxembourg City as the youngest of nine children of Jean Metz, Auguste Metz attended 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:...
, before leaving to study law at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
in 1833. He gained his licence to practice law in France, but returned to Luxembourg, where he became involved in the steel industry. In 1837, Metz and his brothers Charles
Charles Metz
Charles Gérard Emmanuel Metz was a Luxembourgian politician, journalist, and lawyer. He was a prominent pro-Belgian in the Belgian Revolution, serving in the Belgian national legislature, before entering the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg, of which he was the first President, from 1848 to...
and Norbert
Norbert Metz
Jean-Joseph Norbert Metz was a Luxembourgian politician and engineer. With his two brothers, members of the powerful Metz family, Charles and Auguste, Metz defined political and economic life in Luxembourg in the mid-nineteenth century.Metz was the leading 'quarante huitards': the radical...
, were given a ten-year lease of the steel mill at Berbourg
Berbourg
Berbourg is a small town in the commune of Manternach, in eastern Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 627....
. They formed a company, Auguste Metz & Cie, along with Théodore Pescatore
Théodore Pescatore
Théodore Pescatore was a Luxembourgian politician. One of the most important liberals in the mid-nineteenth century, he was president of the Constituent Assembly that wrote Luxembourg's Constitution in 1848...
, for the purpose of expanding and redeveloping the site. The company expanded, taking over foundries at Grundhof, in the 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...
,, at Eich
Eich, Luxembourg
Eich is a quarter in northern Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg.In 2001, the quarter had a population of 1,334 people.-Commune:Eich was a commune in the canton of Luxembourg until 1 July 1920, when it was merged into the commune of Luxembourg...
, and at Fischbach
Fischbach, Luxembourg
Fischbach is a commune and village in central Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Mersch, which is part of the district of Luxembourg., the village of Fischbach, which lies in the centre of the commune, has a population of 178. Other towns within the commune include Angelsberg and Schoos...
.
He first became involved in politics through his opposition to the Third Partition of Luxembourg in 1839.Mersch (1963), p. 564 In 1848, Metz sat on Luxembourg's 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...
, and then the first 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....
, elected in 1848 to represent Grevenmacher
Grevenmacher (Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg constituency)
The constituency Grevenmacher elected members to Luxembourg's national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies, from 1848 until its abolition in 1919...
. He was targeted in the 1854 election by the 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:...
government. He would not live to see the assembly of the new Chamber of Deputies, however, as he died in Eich just eight days after the election, having fallen ill inspecting the foundry at Berbourg, exacerbated by tonsillitis
Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils most commonly caused by viral or bacterial infection. Symptoms of tonsillitis include sore throat and fever. While no treatment has been found to shorten the duration of viral tonsillitis, bacterial causes are treatable with antibiotics...
.
He married Petronille Laeis on 17 August 1841. They had four children, including Léon Metz
Léon Metz
Charles-Léon Metz was a Luxembourgian politician and industrialist. He was a member of the Chamber of Deputies for forty-three years , and served as Mayor of Esch-sur-Alzette from 1906 to 1909....
, who became a member of the Chamber of Deputies for forty-three years and Mayor of Esch-sur-Alzette for three years.