Marie Janson
Encyclopedia
Marie Janson was a Belgian
politician and the first woman to serve in the Belgian senate
. She was a daughter of Paul Janson
and Anna-Augustine Amoré.
Born in Brussels
, her father Paul Janson
was leading member of the progressive wing of the Belgian liberal movement
and founder of the Fédération progressiste
. Her brother Paul-Émile Janson
served as Prime Minister of Belgium. Marie's mother, Anna-Augustine Amoré was a well-educated woman of middle-origins who had worked as teacher at Isabelle Gatti de Gamond
's school before her marriage; Marie herself was educated there.
On 22 July 1894, she married lawyer and playwright Paul Spaak
. The couple had four children, of whom Paul-Henri Spaak
, later Belgian Prime Minister like his uncle Paul-Émile, was the most famous.
During the First World War Marie was active in social work and this led her to join the Socialist Party
. She was elected to the municipal council of Saint-Gilles
in 1921, and the same year was selected by the party's executive, led by Émile Vandervelde
, to serve in the Belgian Senate
. She continued to serve as a co-opted senator until 1958. Her long service led to her presiding over the opening of the Senate on 11 November 1952.
Her granddaughter Antoinette Spaak
followed in her footsteps, achieving another first: first woman to lead a Belgian political party, the Democratic Front of Francophones
.
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 the first woman to serve in the Belgian senate
Belgian Senate
The Belgian Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Chamber of Representatives. It is considered to be the "upper house" of the Federal Parliament.-History and future:...
. She was a daughter of Paul Janson
Paul Janson
Paul Janson was a Belgian liberal politician.Born in Herstal, Janson studied philosophy and law at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. From an early age he was a strong supporter of electoral reform and stood on the progressive wing of the Belgian liberal movement...
and Anna-Augustine Amoré.
Born 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...
, her father Paul Janson
Paul Janson
Paul Janson was a Belgian liberal politician.Born in Herstal, Janson studied philosophy and law at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. From an early age he was a strong supporter of electoral reform and stood on the progressive wing of the Belgian liberal movement...
was leading member of the progressive wing of the Belgian liberal movement
Liberalism in Belgium
This article gives an overview of liberalism in Belgium. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
and founder of the Fédération progressiste
Progressive Party (Belgium)
The Progressive Party of Belgium was a progressive Liberal party which existed from 1887 until 1900.-History:After the defeat of the Liberal party in the general elections of 1884 the doctrinarian faction continued to dominate the Belgian Liberal party. However, the progressistes or radicals no...
. Her brother Paul-Émile Janson
Paul-Emile Janson
Paul-Emile Janson was a Belgian liberal politician.Born in Brussels, Janson was the son of liberal statesman Paul Janson . He studied law at the Free University of Brussels , practised as a lawyer, and also taught at the university...
served as Prime Minister of Belgium. Marie's mother, Anna-Augustine Amoré was a well-educated woman of middle-origins who had worked as teacher at Isabelle Gatti de Gamond
Isabelle Gatti de Gamond
Isabelle Laure Gatti de Gamond was an Italo-Belgian educationalist, feminist, and politician.Isabelle Gatti was the second of four daughters born to Giovanni Gatti, an Italian artist, and feminist writer Zoé de Gamond, of Brussels...
's school before her marriage; Marie herself was educated there.
On 22 July 1894, she married lawyer and playwright Paul Spaak
Paul Spaak
Paul Spaak was a Belgian lawyer and playwright.Born in Ixelles, Spaak graduated in law at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in 1894. On 22 July 1894, he married Marie Janson, daughter of Paul Janson. The couple had four children, of whom Paul-Henri Spaak, later Belgian Prime Minister like his...
. The couple had four children, of whom Paul-Henri Spaak
Paul-Henri Spaak
Paul Henri Charles Spaak was a Belgian Socialist politician and statesman.-Early life:Paul-Henri Spaak was born on 25 January 1899 in Schaerbeek, Belgium, to a distinguished Belgian family. His grandfather, Paul Janson was an important member of the Liberal Party...
, later Belgian Prime Minister like his uncle Paul-Émile, was the most famous.
During the First World War Marie was active in social work and this led her to join the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Belgium)
The following Socialist Parties exist in Belgium:* Left Socialist Party - Linkse Socialistische Partij/Parti Socialiste de Lutte * Parti Socialiste * Socialistische Partij Anders, Socialist Party Differently -See also:...
. She was elected to the municipal council of Saint-Gilles
Saint-Gilles, Belgium
Saint-Gilles or Sint-Gillis is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.Saint-Gilles has a multicultural identity stemming from its diverse population...
in 1921, and the same year was selected by the party's executive, led by Émile Vandervelde
Emile Vandervelde
thumb|upright|Emile VanderveldeEmile Vandervelde was a Belgian statesman, born at Ixelles. He studied law at the Free University of Brussels and became doctor of laws in 1885 and doctor of social science in 1888.-Activities:Vandervelde became a member of the Parti Ouvrier...
, to serve in the Belgian Senate
Belgian Senate
The Belgian Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Chamber of Representatives. It is considered to be the "upper house" of the Federal Parliament.-History and future:...
. She continued to serve as a co-opted senator until 1958. Her long service led to her presiding over the opening of the Senate on 11 November 1952.
Her granddaughter Antoinette Spaak
Antoinette Spaak
Antoinette M. Spaak, born in Brussels on 27 June 1928, is a Belgian politician.Daughter of former Prime Minister of Belgium Paul-Henri Spaak, granddaughter of the first female member of the Belgian Senate Marie Janson, and great-niece of Prime Minister Paul-Émile Janson, Spaak was born into a...
followed in her footsteps, achieving another first: first woman to lead a Belgian political party, the Democratic Front of Francophones
Democratic Front of Francophones
The Francophone Democratic Federalists , is a Francophone political party based in Brussels, Belgium founded on 11 May 1964. Until 1982, the FDF dominated Brussels' municipal politics. It is led by Deputy Olivier Maingain....
.