Charles Metz
Encyclopedia
Charles Gérard Emmanuel Metz (6 January 1799 – 24 April 1853) was a Luxembourg
ian 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 1853.
Charles was born in Luxembourg City in 1799 to Jean Metz and Anne-Marie-Justine Gérard. He studied at the Athénée de Luxembourg
and the lycée in Metz
, France
, before reading law at the newly-established University of Liège
, graduating in 1822. Metz first became politically active as a pro-Belgian
spokesperson during the Belgian Revolution
. In the National Congress
called in Brussels
, Metz was one of sixteen deputies
representing the arrondissement
of Luxembourg (claimed in its entirety by Belgium). In 1836, Metz moved to Arlon, where he established a newspaper, L'Echo de Luxembourg, to promote Luxembourgian and liberal interests, along with Emmanuel Servais
and Victor Tesch.
In 1837, Metz was elected to the Chamber of Representatives, representing Grevenmacher
until 1841. He urged the Belgians to enter negotiations with the Netherlands
, but spoke against the Third Partition of Luxembourg, ultimately voting against the Treaty of London. In 1839, he stood for election to the Chamber of Representatives for Bastogne
, but lost, remaining as representative of now-partitioned Grevenmacher.
Metz, along with his younger brothers Auguste
and Norbert
, establish the steel company Auguste Metz & Cie in 1838, but he played little active role in its operations. Metz was allowed to return to the (smaller) Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to practise law in 1842. With the collapse of the Orangist
Journal de la Ville et du Pays Luxembourg in 1844, Metz went about establishing the new Courrier de Luxembourg, along with his brother Norbert and other leading liberals, as well as the conservative Orangist
Mathieu-Lambert Schrobilgen, with whom the ideological split became more and more apparent over time.
During 1848, Metz was elected to the Constituent Assembly
, being elected to represent the cantons
of Esch and Luxembourg, but opting to represent the latter. The Metz brothers narrowly failed to defer Luxembourg sending a delegation from Luxembourg to the Frankfurt Parliament
, although their position cost them their potential part in the three-man delegation. The Metz brothers were elected to the inaugural Chamber of Deputies
. Charles was elected the first President of the Chamber, which he remained until his death on 24 April 1853.
He married Justine Vannérus on 26 December 1827 in Diekirch
. Vannérus died in 1849, by which time they had seven children, of whom three (Jules, Irma, and Léonie) survived to adulthood. Metz's only son, Jules, followed his father at the Courrier, and then into the Chamber of Deputies for Capellen. Léonie married the Jersey
-born engineer Edmond Le Gallais.
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 politician, journalist, and lawyer. He was a prominent pro-Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in the Belgian Revolution
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium....
, serving in the Belgian national legislature, before entering 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....
of Luxembourg, of which he was the first President, from 1848 to 1853.
Charles was born in Luxembourg City in 1799 to Jean Metz and Anne-Marie-Justine Gérard. He studied at 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:...
and the lycée in Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, before reading law at the newly-established University of Liège
University of Liège
The University of Liège , in Liège, Wallonia, Belgium, is a major public university in the French Community of Belgium. Its official language is French.-History:...
, graduating in 1822. Metz first became politically active as a pro-Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
spokesperson during the Belgian Revolution
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium....
. In the National Congress
National Congress of Belgium
The Belgian National Congress was a temporary legislative assembly in 1830, established shortly after the Provisional Government of Belgium had proclaimed Belgian independence on October 4 of that year...
called in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Metz was one of sixteen deputies
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....
representing the arrondissement
Arrondissements of Belgium
The federalized country Belgium geographically consists of 3 regions, of which only Flemish Region and Walloon Region are subdivided into 5 provinces each; the Brussels-Capital Region is neither a province nor is it part of one....
of Luxembourg (claimed in its entirety by Belgium). In 1836, Metz moved to Arlon, where he established a newspaper, L'Echo de Luxembourg, to promote Luxembourgian and liberal interests, along with Emmanuel Servais
Emmanuel Servais
Lambert Joseph Emmanuel Servais was a Luxembourgian politician. He held numerous offices of national importance, foremost amongst which was in serving as the fifth Prime Minister of Luxembourg, for seven years, from 3 December 1867 until 26 December 1874.After being Prime Minister, he was a...
and Victor Tesch.
In 1837, Metz was elected to the Chamber of Representatives, representing Grevenmacher
Grevenmacher (district)
The District of Grevenmacher is one of three districts of Luxembourg. It contains 3 cantons divided into 26 communes:#Echternach#*Beaufort#*Bech#*Berdorf#*Consdorf#*Echternach#*Mompach#*Rosport#*Waldbillig#Grevenmacher#*Betzdorf#*Biwer...
until 1841. He urged the Belgians to enter negotiations 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...
, but spoke against the Third Partition of Luxembourg, ultimately voting against the Treaty of London. In 1839, he stood for election to the Chamber of Representatives for Bastogne
Bastogne
Bastogne Luxembourgish: Baaschtnech) is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg in the Ardennes. The municipality of Bastogne includes the old communes of Longvilly, Noville, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, and Wardin...
, but lost, remaining as representative of now-partitioned Grevenmacher.
Metz, along with his younger brothers Auguste
Auguste Metz
Jean-Antoine Auguste Metz was a Luxembourgian 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...
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...
, establish the steel company Auguste Metz & Cie in 1838, but he played little active role in its operations. Metz was allowed to return to the (smaller) Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to practise law in 1842. With the collapse of the Orangist
Orangism (Luxembourg)
Orangism was a movement in the 19th century Grand Duchy of Luxembourg favouring the personal union of the Netherlands and Luxembourg under the House of Orange-Nassau. Made up of many notable figures, mainly nobles and Roman Catholic clergy, they were moderate liberals or conservative-liberals and...
Journal de la Ville et du Pays Luxembourg in 1844, Metz went about establishing the new Courrier de Luxembourg, along with his brother Norbert and other leading liberals, as well as the conservative Orangist
Orangism (Luxembourg)
Orangism was a movement in the 19th century Grand Duchy of Luxembourg favouring the personal union of the Netherlands and Luxembourg under the House of Orange-Nassau. Made up of many notable figures, mainly nobles and Roman Catholic clergy, they were moderate liberals or conservative-liberals and...
Mathieu-Lambert Schrobilgen, with whom the ideological split became more and more apparent over time.
During 1848, Metz was elected to the 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...
, being elected to represent the cantons
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 Esch and Luxembourg, but opting to represent the latter. The Metz brothers narrowly failed to defer Luxembourg sending a delegation from Luxembourg to the Frankfurt Parliament
Frankfurt Parliament
The Frankfurt Assembly was the first freely elected parliament for all of Germany. Session was held from May 18, 1848 to May 31, 1849 in the Paulskirche at Frankfurt am Main...
, although their position cost them their potential part in the three-man delegation. The Metz brothers were elected to the inaugural 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....
. Charles was elected the first President of the Chamber, which he remained until his death on 24 April 1853.
He married Justine Vannérus on 26 December 1827 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....
. Vannérus died in 1849, by which time they had seven children, of whom three (Jules, Irma, and Léonie) survived to adulthood. Metz's only son, Jules, followed his father at the Courrier, and then into the Chamber of Deputies for Capellen. Léonie married the Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
-born engineer Edmond Le Gallais.