Wilhelm Matthias Naeff
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Matthias Naeff was a Swiss
politician and one of the seven initial members of the Swiss Federal Council
(1848–1875).
Naeff was born in Altstätten
into a long-established Rhine-Valley's family. Already, his father was an influential merchant. Naeff studied law in Heidelberg (Germany), and, after his return to Switzerland, he was elected to the cantonal (state) government of St. Gallen. Naeff is well-known for not interventing in the conflict, which dominated Switzerland at that time, between liberals and conservatives. The Rhine Valley was a stronghold of the liberals, which is why Naeff could depend on his supporters.
Naeff was a member of the "Siebnergruppe", a group of seven people who, after the Napoleonic occupation, drafted the 1848 constitution of the Swiss Confederation,the basis of the current constitution. He was elected to the Swiss Federal Council
of ministers on 16 November 1848, as a representative of St. Gallen
. He stayed there for 27 years, considerably longer than all of his counterparts from that time.
While, in his long term in office, Naeff increasingly lost influence and adhered a reputation as "deadhead". He was re-elected by only small margins. On 31 December 1875, he finally resigned. Naeff was affiliated with the Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
(liberal democrats/radicals).
During his long tenure, he headed the following departments:
In 1853, he was President of the Confederation, presiding the council. He resigned on 31 December 1875.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
politician and one of the seven initial members of the Swiss Federal Council
Swiss Federal Council
The Federal Council is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the federal government of Switzerland and serves as the Swiss collective head of state....
(1848–1875).
Naeff was born in Altstätten
Altstätten
Altstätten is a town in the district Rhine Valley, in the canton of St. Gall in Switzerland.- Overview :The town consists of the following tracts: Alter Zoll, Altstätten, Bächis, Baumert, Bieser, Büeberg, Bühl, Bühl , Bühl bei Hinterforst, Burgfeld, Bürglen, Burst, Domishäuser, Fidern, Gätziberg,...
into a long-established Rhine-Valley's family. Already, his father was an influential merchant. Naeff studied law in Heidelberg (Germany), and, after his return to Switzerland, he was elected to the cantonal (state) government of St. Gallen. Naeff is well-known for not interventing in the conflict, which dominated Switzerland at that time, between liberals and conservatives. The Rhine Valley was a stronghold of the liberals, which is why Naeff could depend on his supporters.
Naeff was a member of the "Siebnergruppe", a group of seven people who, after the Napoleonic occupation, drafted the 1848 constitution of the Swiss Confederation,the basis of the current constitution. He was elected to the Swiss Federal Council
Swiss Federal Council
The Federal Council is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the federal government of Switzerland and serves as the Swiss collective head of state....
of ministers on 16 November 1848, as a representative of St. Gallen
Canton of St. Gallen
The Canton of St. Gallen is a canton of Switzerland. St. Gallen is located in the north east of Switzerland. It covers an area of 2,026 km², and has a population of . , the population included 97,461 foreigners, or about 20.9% of the total population. The capital is St. Gallen. Spelling...
. He stayed there for 27 years, considerably longer than all of his counterparts from that time.
While, in his long term in office, Naeff increasingly lost influence and adhered a reputation as "deadhead". He was re-elected by only small margins. On 31 December 1875, he finally resigned. Naeff was affiliated with the Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
(liberal democrats/radicals).
During his long tenure, he headed the following departments:
- Department of Posts and Construction (1848–1852)
- Political Department (1853)
- Department of Trade and Customs (1854)
- Department of Posts and Construction (1855–1859)
- Department of Posts (1860–1866)
- Department of Trade and Customs (1867–1872)
- Department of Finance (1873)
- Department of Railway and Trade (1873)
- Department of Finance (1874–1875)
In 1853, he was President of the Confederation, presiding the council. He resigned on 31 December 1875.