Étienne Constantin de Gerlache facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Étienne Constantin de Gerlache
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| Prime Minister of Belgium | |
| In office 27 February 1831 – 28 March 1831 |
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| Monarch | Erasme Louis Surlet de Chokier (Regent) |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Lebeau |
| President of the Chamber of Representatives | |
| In office 10 September 1831 – 15 November 1832 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Joseph Raikem |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 December 1785 Bertrix, France (now Belgium) |
| Died | 10 February 1871 (aged 85) Ixelles, Belgium |
| Political party | Catholic Party |
| Spouse | Anne Buschmann |
| Children | 5 |
Étienne Constantin, Baron de Gerlache (born December 26, 1785 – died February 10, 1871) was an important lawyer and politician. He lived during a time when Belgium was becoming its own country. In 1831, he became the very first prime minister of Belgium. He helped shape the new Belgian state.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Étienne Constantin de Gerlache was born in Bertrix. This town is now part of Belgium. His parents were Francois de Gerlache and Margarethe de Groulart. He decided to study law. He went to Paris, France, to learn about law. After finishing his studies, he worked as a lawyer there for some time.
Moving to Liège
Later, Étienne de Gerlache moved back home. He settled in Liège, which is a city in Belgium. This was after the United Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed. He became a well-known lawyer in Liège.
Political Career and Belgium's Birth
Étienne de Gerlache was a member of the States General of the Netherlands. This was like the parliament of the Netherlands. He was a strong voice in the opposition. This means he often disagreed with the government. He supported an alliance between two main groups. These were the Catholics and the Liberal party. This alliance helped prepare the way for the Belgian Revolution in 1830.
Role in the Belgian Revolution
When the disturbances started in August 1830, de Gerlache first thought Belgium should stay united with the Netherlands. He believed the Orange-Nassau dynasty was important. However, his ideas soon changed. He then took on different roles in the temporary government. He became the president of the congress. This group was deciding Belgium's future. He suggested that Leopold of Saxe-Coburg should become the king of the Belgians. This was a very important moment for Belgium.
Leading the New Nation
In 1831, Étienne de Gerlache was elected to the Belgian Chamber of Representatives. He represented the city of Liège. He served as the president of this Chamber until 1832. This made him a key leader in the new Belgian government.
First Prime Minister of Belgium
For a short time in 1831, Étienne de Gerlache held a very special role. He became the first ever prime minister of Belgium. This was a brand new position for the newly independent country. He helped set up the government.
President of the Court of Cassation
After his time as prime minister, he took on another major role. He became the first president of the Belgian Court of Cassation. This is the highest court in Belgium. He held this important position for a long time, until 1867. He worked there for thirty-five years.
Later Life and Writings
Étienne de Gerlache also led Catholic meetings. These meetings were held in Mechelen between 1863 and 1867. His political views changed over time. He started with more liberal ideas. But later, he wrote about more conservative principles. He wrote a book called Essai sur le mouvement des partis en Belgique in 1852.
He also wrote history books. His writings often showed his strong feelings against the Dutch. They also showed his Catholic beliefs. One of his important history books was Histoire des Pays-Bas depuis 1814 jusquen 1830. This book was about the history of the Netherlands. He also wrote Histoire de Liège (1843) and Études sur Salluste et sur quelques-uns des principaux historiens de l'antiquité (1847).
Étienne Constantin de Gerlache passed away on February 10, 1871, in Ixelles, Belgium.
Honours
Étienne de Gerlache received several important awards during his life:
Belgium: He was given the Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold. This is a very high honour in Belgium.- Belgium: He also received the War Cross.
France: He was made an Officer of the Legion of Honour by France.- He was made a Knight of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great.
See also
In Spanish: Étienne Constantin de Gerlache para niños
