Hermann von Beckerath
Encyclopedia
Hermann von Beckerath was a banker and Prussia
n statesman.
of 1848, where he was an unswerving advocate of German unity and political liberty. His eloquence exercised considerable influence on this assembly. He was appointed Minister of Finance in the ministry constituted for Germany under the auspices of the parliament, and presently was called to Berlin
to construct a cabinet. He declined the task because Frederick William IV
, the king, would not give him a free hand in his scheme for the unification of Germany
.
When the reactionary movement set in, he resigned the posts he held under the government, but continued, as a member of the Prussian Second Chamber, a vigorous opposition to the Manteuffel ministry, which had deserted the cause of German unity. He withdrew from politics in 1852. After the departure of Manteuffel from power in 1858, Beckerath was again elected a member of the Prussian Second Chamber, but was obliged to decline the honor on account of failing health. He devoted his later years to the affairs of Krefeld, his native town.
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n statesman.
Biography
He was born at Krefeld, in Rhenish Prussia. His youth was spent in learning the business of banking, after which he became the head of a banking firm which had considerable influence in German financing, especially in the Rhenish provinces. After acquiring a considerable fortune, he turned his attention to politics. He served in the Diet of his province and in the Prussian Diet of 1847, and went as a deputy to the Frankfurt ParliamentFrankfurt 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...
of 1848, where he was an unswerving advocate of German unity and political liberty. His eloquence exercised considerable influence on this assembly. He was appointed Minister of Finance in the ministry constituted for Germany under the auspices of the parliament, and presently was called to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
to construct a cabinet. He declined the task because Frederick William IV
Frederick William IV of Prussia
|align=right|Upon his accession, he toned down the reactionary policies enacted by his father, easing press censorship and promising to enact a constitution at some point, but he refused to enact a popular legislative assembly, preferring to work with the aristocracy through "united committees" of...
, the king, would not give him a free hand in his scheme for the unification of Germany
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...
.
When the reactionary movement set in, he resigned the posts he held under the government, but continued, as a member of the Prussian Second Chamber, a vigorous opposition to the Manteuffel ministry, which had deserted the cause of German unity. He withdrew from politics in 1852. After the departure of Manteuffel from power in 1858, Beckerath was again elected a member of the Prussian Second Chamber, but was obliged to decline the honor on account of failing health. He devoted his later years to the affairs of Krefeld, his native town.