Gustave Sap
Encyclopedia
Gustave Charles Sap was a Belgian
politician and minister for the Catholic Party
. Sap was professor at the Catholic University of Leuven
(Leuven
, Belgium
). During his professional career, he was active in the Flemish movement
, agriculture and business. In 1920, he married Antoinette Gylsen, daughter of the Antwerp shipowner Henry Gylsen and together they would have six daughters and one son. Gustave Sap was the father in law of André Vlerick
, Jan Piers and Albert De Smaele.
Normaalschool (E:Teachers college) in Torhout
. He started his career as a teacher, but went on to study at the Catholic University of Leuven
where he graduated in 1911 in commercial and consular sciences. On 20 June 1912, he obtained a PhD at the Catholic University of Leuven with a thesis on the German
stock market
: Le régime légal des bourses en Allemagne. Lois du 22 juin 1896 et du 8 mai 1908.
in 1905, which lasted until 1908. In 1913, he became teacher on stock market
transactions at the Hogere Handelsschool of the Catholic University of Leuven and after World War I
lecturer and in 1920 professor at the Law department of the university.
When World War I
started, Sap fled to Le Havre
where he would be private secretary
of minister Joris Helleputte (agriculture
and public works
) a President of the Boerenbond (E: Belgian Catholic Farmers Association) from March 1915 until November 1918. During the war he continued his activities in the Flemish movement
and supported the Vlaamse frontbeweging (E: Flemish frontmovement). After the war he joined the Catholic Party instead of the Frontpartij
, but remained sympathetic of its cause.
On 5 May 1919, he joined the management of the Catholic Leuvense Volksbank and on 7 May 1921 participated if the foundation of the Algemeene Bankvereeniging (ABV) in Antwerp. Since 1927, Sap was also owner of the Catholic
daily De Standaard
, which was founded by Frans Van Cauwelaert
, Alfons Van de Perre and Arnold Hendrix in 1919 with his financial support, when he acquired the majority of its shares. He would use the newspaper as a political instrument and move it into a more radical Flemish point of view.
From 1920 up to 1940 he was a member of parliament for the district Roeselare
- Tielt
for the farmers of the Catholic Party. In 1931 he participated in oopsing the Jamar government, but afterwards refused to join the Renkin government. On 23 May 1932 Renkin created a new government, which Sap joined this time. Sap was Minister of public work and of agriculture
and tradespeople (1932–1934), Minister of Finance
(1934), Minister of economy
and tradespeople (1939–1940) in the government of Hubert Pierlot
.
As a Council member of the Catholic Boerenbond (E:Belgian Farmers Association) in 1934, he could not avoid the bankruptcy of the Middenkredietkas and the Algemeene Bankvereeniging due to the economic crisis and management issues. He came into conflict with Paul van Zeeland
on economic aspects of the government policy and the National Bank of Belgium
(speech of 16 March 1937). In 1937, he was temporarily ousted from the Catholic Party, because of his sympathies for the extreme right Catholic parties and Leon Degrelle
.
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...
politician and minister for the Catholic Party
Catholic Party (Belgium)
The first Catholic Party in Belgium was established in 1869 as the Confessional Catholic Party .-History:In 1852 a Union Constitutionelle et Conservatrice was founded in Ghent, in Leuven , and in Antwerp and Brussels in 1858, which were active only during elections...
. Sap was professor at the Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
(Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, Belgium
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...
). During his professional career, he was active in the Flemish movement
Flemish movement
The Flemish Movement is a popular term used to describe the political movement for emancipation and greater autonomy of the Belgian region of Flanders, for protection of the Dutch language, and for the over-all protection of Flemish culture and history....
, agriculture and business. In 1920, he married Antoinette Gylsen, daughter of the Antwerp shipowner Henry Gylsen and together they would have six daughters and one son. Gustave Sap was the father in law of André Vlerick
André Vlerick
André, Baron Vlerick was a Belgian politician, businessman, professor and founder of the Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School. He graduated in economy at the University of Ghent and became a professor at the university...
, Jan Piers and Albert De Smaele.
Education
From 1901 until 1905 he attended the episcopalAnglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
Normaalschool (E:Teachers college) in Torhout
Torhout
Torhout is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality only comprises the city of Torhout proper. On January 1, 2008 Torhout had a total population of 19,755...
. He started his career as a teacher, but went on to study at the Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
where he graduated in 1911 in commercial and consular sciences. On 20 June 1912, he obtained a PhD at the Catholic University of Leuven with a thesis on the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
stock market
Stock market
A stock market or equity market is a public entity for the trading of company stock and derivatives at an agreed price; these are securities listed on a stock exchange as well as those only traded privately.The size of the world stock market was estimated at about $36.6 trillion...
: Le régime légal des bourses en Allemagne. Lois du 22 juin 1896 et du 8 mai 1908.
Career
He started his career as a teacherTeacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
in 1905, which lasted until 1908. In 1913, he became teacher on stock market
Stock market
A stock market or equity market is a public entity for the trading of company stock and derivatives at an agreed price; these are securities listed on a stock exchange as well as those only traded privately.The size of the world stock market was estimated at about $36.6 trillion...
transactions at the Hogere Handelsschool of the Catholic University of Leuven and after World War I
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...
lecturer and in 1920 professor at the Law department of the university.
When World War I
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...
started, Sap fled to Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
where he would be private secretary
Private Secretary
In the United Kingdom government, a Private Secretary is a civil servant in a Department or Ministry, responsible to the Secretary of State or Minister...
of minister Joris Helleputte (agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and public works
Public works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
) a President of the Boerenbond (E: Belgian Catholic Farmers Association) from March 1915 until November 1918. During the war he continued his activities in the Flemish movement
Flemish movement
The Flemish Movement is a popular term used to describe the political movement for emancipation and greater autonomy of the Belgian region of Flanders, for protection of the Dutch language, and for the over-all protection of Flemish culture and history....
and supported the Vlaamse frontbeweging (E: Flemish frontmovement). After the war he joined the Catholic Party instead of the Frontpartij
Frontpartij
The Frontpartij was a Belgian political party that campaigned for increasing recognition for the Flemish people and their language. Originating from the earlier Frontbeweging, the Frontpartij was an early attempt to fully politicise the Flemish Movement...
, but remained sympathetic of its cause.
On 5 May 1919, he joined the management of the Catholic Leuvense Volksbank and on 7 May 1921 participated if the foundation of the Algemeene Bankvereeniging (ABV) in Antwerp. Since 1927, Sap was also owner of the Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
daily De Standaard
De Standaard
De Standaard is a Flemish daily newspaper published in Belgium by Corelio . Circulation was about 102.280 in 2007. It was traditionally a Christian-Democratic paper, associated with the Christian-Democratic and Flemish Party, and in opposition to the Socialist Flemish daily De Morgen...
, which was founded by Frans Van Cauwelaert
Frans Van Cauwelaert
Frans van Cauwelaert , was a Belgian Roman Catholic politician and lawyer.Van Cauwelaert was born at Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Lombeek...
, Alfons Van de Perre and Arnold Hendrix in 1919 with his financial support, when he acquired the majority of its shares. He would use the newspaper as a political instrument and move it into a more radical Flemish point of view.
From 1920 up to 1940 he was a member of parliament for the district Roeselare
Roeselare
Roeselare is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Roeselare proper and the towns of Beveren, Oekene and Rumbeke....
- Tielt
Tielt
Tielt is a Belgian municipality in the province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Tielt proper and the towns of Aarsele, Kanegem, and Schuiferskapelle.-History:Some traces of Gallo-Roman occupation have been found in this area...
for the farmers of the Catholic Party. In 1931 he participated in oopsing the Jamar government, but afterwards refused to join the Renkin government. On 23 May 1932 Renkin created a new government, which Sap joined this time. Sap was Minister of public work and of agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and tradespeople (1932–1934), Minister of Finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
(1934), Minister of economy
Economy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
and tradespeople (1939–1940) in the government of Hubert Pierlot
Hubert Pierlot
Hubert Marie Eugène, Count Pierlot was a Belgian Walloon politician and jurist, the 32nd Prime Minister of Belgium between 1939 and 1945 .-Biography:He was a representative of the Catholic Party Hubert Marie Eugène, Count Pierlot (23 December 1883, Cugnon (Bertrix) – 13 December 1963, Uccle)...
.
As a Council member of the Catholic Boerenbond (E:Belgian Farmers Association) in 1934, he could not avoid the bankruptcy of the Middenkredietkas and the Algemeene Bankvereeniging due to the economic crisis and management issues. He came into conflict with Paul van Zeeland
Paul van Zeeland
Paul Guillaume van Zeeland was a Belgian lawyer, economist, Catholic politician and statesman born in Soignies....
on economic aspects of the government policy and the National Bank of Belgium
National Bank of Belgium
The National Bank of Belgium has been the central bank of Belgium since 1850...
(speech of 16 March 1937). In 1937, he was temporarily ousted from the Catholic Party, because of his sympathies for the extreme right Catholic parties and Leon Degrelle
Léon Degrelle
Léon Joseph Marie Ignace Degrelle was a Walloon Belgian politician, who founded Rexism and later joined the Waffen SS which were front-line troops in the fight against the Soviet Union...
.