Walthère Frère-Orban | |
|---|---|
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| Prime Minister of Belgium | |
| In office 19 June 1878 – 16 June 1884 | |
| Monarch | Leopold II |
| Preceded by | Jules Malou |
| Succeeded by | Jules Malou |
| In office 3 January 1868 – 2 July 1870 | |
| Monarch | Leopold II |
| Preceded by | Charles Rogier |
| Succeeded by | Jules d'Anethan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1812-04-24)24 April 1812 |
| Died | 2 January 1896(1896-01-02) (aged 83) Brussels, Belgium |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
Hubert Joseph Walthère Frère-Orban (French pronunciation:[ybɛʁʒozɛfwaltɛʁfʁɛʁɔʁbɑ̃]; 24 April 1812 – 2 January 1896) was aBelgianliberal statesman who served as thePrime Minister of Belgium from 1868 to 1870 and again from 1878 to 1884.
He was born atLiège, received his education at home and in Paris, and began the practice of law in his native town. He identified himself with theLiberal party, and was conspicuous in the controversy with theCatholic clergy.
In 1846, he wrote the program, which was accepted as the charter for aliberal political party. In1847 he was elected to the Belgian Chamber and appointed Minister of Public Works. and from 1848 to 1852 he held the portfolio of Finance. He reduced postage, abolished the newspaper tax and was a strong advocate offree trade.
His work,La mainmorte et la charité (1854–57), directed against theConservatives, produced a great effect on the position of parties in Belgium. As a result, in1857, the Liberals returned to power and Frère-Orban became once moreminister of Finance in the cabinet ofCharles Rogier, whom he succeeded to become theprime minister in 1868. In1870 the Catholics regained their supremacy and forced him to retire, but from1878 to 1884 he was again at the head of the cabinet, most notably breaking off diplomatic relations with thePapal States in 1880 (which were restored in 1884).
As finance minister, Frère-Orban was instrumental in the creation of Belgium's three major public financial institutions, namely theNational Bank of Belgium in 1850,[1] theCaisse Générale d'Épargne et de Retraite in 1850-1865,[2] and theCrédit Communal de Belgique in 1860.[3]
Standing as a liberal again in theOctober 1894 elections, he categorically refused the support of Catholics against progressives and socialists. He was not re-elected, defeated by the socialistCélestin Demblon.
Weakened by illness, he died on 2 January 1896. Frère-Orban lies in its birthplace, Liège, in the cemetery of Robermont.
Frère-Orban's liberalism consisted in the assertion of the authority of the state over the church and the defense of the system of secular public instruction against the clergy. He was at all times opposed to the "undue extension" ofsuffrage. Among other works he wroteLa question monétaire.
Belgium:
Austria-Hungary:1881: Knight Grand Cross in theRoyal Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen.[6]
Kingdom of France: Knight Grand Cross in theLegion of Honour.[7]
Kingdom of Prussia:6 May 1852: Knight 1st Class in theOrder of the Red Eagle.[7][8]Austrian Empire: Knight Grand Cross in theImperial Order of Leopold of Austria[7]
Kingdom of Spain: Knight Grand Cross in theOrder of Charles III.[7]
Kingdom of Portugal: Knight Grand Cross in theRoyal Military Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ.[7]
Kingdom of Hanover: Knight Grand Cross in theRoyal Guelphic Order.[7]
Kingdom of Italy: Knight Grand Cross in theOrder of Saints Maurice and Lazarus.[7]
Kingdom of the Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross in theOrder of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau.[7]{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link){{cite encyclopedia}}:Missing or empty|title= (help)
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Belgium 1868–1870 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Belgium 1878–1884 | Succeeded by |
