Pierre-Ernest Dams
Encyclopedia
Pierre-Ernest Dams was a Luxembourgian politician, judge, and journalist. He was a major figure in the formative years of Luxembourg as an independent country.
Born in Remich
, Dams's father was originally from Dommelen
, in the modern Netherlands
. During the Belgian Revolution
, Dams was elected to the National Congress of Belgium
to represent the district of Grevenmacher
. There, he voted for the Declaration of Independence, against the Treaty of Twenty-Eight Articles, and for making Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
King of the Belgians. In 1831, he was elected to represent Grevenmacher in the Chamber of Representatives. He voted against the Treaty of Twenty-Four Articles, which later became the framework for the Treaty of London. He remained in the Chamber of Representatives until 1837, when he was replaced by Charles Metz
.
Luxembourg was separated from Belgium by the Treaty of London in 1839, and Dams re-entered political life in the Grand Duchy. He was a member of the Assembly of the States, representing Remich
from 1842 to 1845. He was elected to the Constituent Assembly
, which drafted Luxembourg's new constitution in 1848. From 1848 to 1853, Dams was a member of the Chamber of Deputies
.
Born in Remich
Remich
Remich is a commune with city status in south-eastern Luxembourg with just under 3,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the canton of Remich, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher. Remich lies on the left bank of the Moselle river, which forms part of the border between Luxembourg and...
, Dams's father was originally from Dommelen
Dommelen
Dommelen is a village in the southern Netherlands. It is located in the municipality of Valkenswaard, North Brabant. Dommelen derives its name from the little brook Dommel that runs through it. Having its clear water close at hand, Dommelen is mostly known for its beer brewery, Dommelsch...
, in the modern 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...
. 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....
, Dams was elected to the National Congress of Belgium
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...
to represent the district of 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...
. There, he voted for the Declaration of Independence, against the Treaty of Twenty-Eight Articles, and for making Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Leopold I of Belgium
Leopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
King of the Belgians. In 1831, he was elected to represent Grevenmacher in the Chamber of Representatives. He voted against the Treaty of Twenty-Four Articles, which later became the framework for the Treaty of London. He remained in the Chamber of Representatives until 1837, when he was replaced by Charles Metz
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...
.
Luxembourg was separated from Belgium by the Treaty of London in 1839, and Dams re-entered political life in the Grand Duchy. He was a member of the Assembly of the States, representing Remich
Remich (canton)
Remich is a canton in the east of Luxembourg, in the Grevenmacher District. The capital is Remich.The canton consists of the following 10 communes:*Bous*Burmerange*Dalheim*Lenningen*Mondorf-les-Bains*Remich*Schengen*Stadtbredimus*Waldbredimus...
from 1842 to 1845. He 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...
, which drafted Luxembourg's new constitution in 1848. From 1848 to 1853, Dams was a 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....
.