Théodore Pescatore
Encyclopedia
Théodore Pescatore was a Luxembourg
ian politician. One of the most important liberals
in the mid-nineteenth century, he was president of the Constituent Assembly
that wrote Luxembourg's Constitution
in 1848. He later held the position of President of the Chamber of Deputies for two years.
Pescatore studied law at the University of Liège
, but, instead of pursuing a career in the law, Pescatore attended a military academy
in the Netherlands
, and, upon returning to Luxembourg, in 1827, he was recruited as a lieutenant
into the guard of Luxembourg City. However, after three years, Pescatore's anti-Orangist
and pro-Belgian
political sympathies forced him out of the military. Instead, he joined with his cousins to set up a faience
factory in Eich
, where his brother was mayor. After seven years, they merged into the Société d'industrie luxembourgeoise, and Pescatore helped set up Auguste Metz & Cie with Auguste Metz
and his brothers Charles
and Norbert
.
In 1841, he was appointed to the 'Commission of Nine' in the Hague
that advised the King-Grand Duke
on the Luxembourgian issues, including the drafting of a constitution. From 30 October 1841, he was a member of the Assembly of the States for Mersch, and entered the Commission of Government under the governor, Gaspard-Théodore-Ignace de la Fontaine
. Pescatore was charged with negotiating a treaty on the terms of Luxembourg's membership of the Zollverein
, in place of F. H. W. de Scherff, who had fallen ill.
He was elected to the 1848 Constituent Assembly
, representing Luxembourg canton. Appointed the first chair of the constituent assembly, he advocated heavy involvement with the Frankfurt Parliament
. In the elections to the first Chamber of Deputies
after the promulgation of the constitution, Pescatore ran for Luxembourg canton, and found himself in the unique position of being top of the electoral lists of all three parties. Despite having been in government before 1848, he showed no interest in returning afterwards, and remained a legislator, being elected Vice-President of the Chamber in 1852, with Charles Metz as President. With the death of Metz the following year, Pescatore became the new President of the Chamber, whilst the Willmar government was replaced by one under Charles-Mathias Simons
.
With, however, the death of Auguste Metz in 1855, and the subsequent retirement of Charles Metz, the radicals that formed Pescatore's support base withered, and he was replaced as President of the Chamber by Victor de Tornaco
. He decided to resign as deputy, as well, but returned when reelected at the head of the liberals' list in Luxembourg canton on 30 November 1857. He returned as President of the Chamber, being elected by 21 votes to 3. He held this position until 1866, when he stood down as President, and he retired as a deputy in 1869.
Pescatore died on 23 August 1878 after a long illness.
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. One of the most important liberals
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
in the mid-nineteenth century, he was president of 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...
that wrote Luxembourg's Constitution
Constitution of Luxembourg
The Constitution of Luxembourg is the supreme law of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The modern constitution was adopted on 17 October 1868.Whilst the constitution of 1868 marked a radical change in Luxembourg's constitutional settlement, it was technically an amendment of the original constitution...
in 1848. He later held the position of President of the Chamber of Deputies for two years.
Pescatore studied law at the 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:...
, but, instead of pursuing a career in the law, Pescatore attended a military academy
Military academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
in 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...
, and, upon returning to Luxembourg, in 1827, he was recruited as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
into the guard of Luxembourg City. However, after three years, Pescatore's anti-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...
and 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...
political sympathies forced him out of the military. Instead, he joined with his cousins to set up a faience
Faience
Faience or faïence is the conventional name in English for fine tin-glazed pottery on a delicate pale buff earthenware body, originally associated with Faenza in northern Italy. The invention of a white pottery glaze suitable for painted decoration, by the addition of an oxide of tin to the slip...
factory in Eich
Eich, Luxembourg
Eich is a quarter in northern Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg.In 2001, the quarter had a population of 1,334 people.-Commune:Eich was a commune in the canton of Luxembourg until 1 July 1920, when it was merged into the commune of Luxembourg...
, where his brother was mayor. After seven years, they merged into the Société d'industrie luxembourgeoise, and Pescatore helped set up Auguste Metz & Cie with Auguste Metz
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 his brothers Charles
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...
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...
.
In 1841, he was appointed to the 'Commission of Nine' in the Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
that advised the King-Grand Duke
King-Grand Duke
The designation of King-Grand Duke was held by the three monarchs of the House of Orange-Nassau that ruled Luxembourg and the Netherlands in personal union, between 1815 and 1890...
on the Luxembourgian issues, including the drafting of a constitution. From 30 October 1841, he was a member of the Assembly of the States for Mersch, and entered the Commission of Government under the governor, Gaspard-Théodore-Ignace de la Fontaine
Gaspard-Théodore-Ignace de la Fontaine
Gaspard-Théodore-Ignace de la Fontaine was a Luxembourgian politician and jurist. He led the Orangist movement and was the first Prime Minister of Luxembourg, serving for four months, from 1 August 1848 until 6 December of the same year.His third son, Edmond, better known by his pen name 'Dicks',...
. Pescatore was charged with negotiating a treaty on the terms of Luxembourg's membership of the Zollverein
Zollverein
thumb|upright=1.2|The German Zollverein 1834–1919blue = Prussia in 1834 grey= Included region until 1866yellow= Excluded after 1866red = Borders of the German Union of 1828 pink= Relevant others until 1834...
, in place of F. H. W. de Scherff, who had fallen ill.
He was elected to the 1848 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...
, representing Luxembourg canton. Appointed the first chair of the constituent assembly, he advocated heavy involvement with 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...
. In the elections to the first 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....
after the promulgation of the constitution, Pescatore ran for Luxembourg canton, and found himself in the unique position of being top of the electoral lists of all three parties. Despite having been in government before 1848, he showed no interest in returning afterwards, and remained a legislator, being elected Vice-President of the Chamber in 1852, with Charles Metz as President. With the death of Metz the following year, Pescatore became the new President of the Chamber, whilst the Willmar government was replaced by one under Charles-Mathias Simons
Charles-Mathias Simons
Charles-Mathias Simons was a Luxembourgian politician and jurist. He was the third Prime Minister of Luxembourg, serving for seven years, from 1853 until 1860.-Ezternal links:...
.
With, however, the death of Auguste Metz in 1855, and the subsequent retirement of Charles Metz, the radicals that formed Pescatore's support base withered, and he was replaced as President of the Chamber by Victor de Tornaco
Victor de Tornaco
Baron Victor de Tornaco was a Luxembourgian politician. An Orangist, he was the fourth Prime Minister of Luxembourg, serving for seven years, from 26 September 1860 until 3 December 1867....
. He decided to resign as deputy, as well, but returned when reelected at the head of the liberals' list in Luxembourg canton on 30 November 1857. He returned as President of the Chamber, being elected by 21 votes to 3. He held this position until 1866, when he stood down as President, and he retired as a deputy in 1869.
Pescatore died on 23 August 1878 after a long illness.