Jonas Furrer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jonas Furrer
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| Member of the Swiss Federal Council | |
| In office 16 November 1848 – 25 July 1861 |
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| President of the Confederation | |
| In office 21 November 1848 – 31 December 1849 |
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| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Henri Druey |
| President of the Confederation | |
| In office 1 January 1852 – 31 December 1852 |
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| Preceded by | Josef Munzinger |
| Succeeded by | Wilhelm Matthias Naeff |
| President of the Confederation | |
| In office 1 January 1855 – 31 December 1855 |
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| Preceded by | Friedrich Frey-Herosé |
| Succeeded by | Jakob Stämpfli |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 March 1805 Winterthur, Switzerland |
| Died | 25 July 1861 (aged 56) Bad Ragaz, Switzerland |
| Political party | Free Democratic Party |
Jonas Furrer (born March 3, 1805 – died July 25, 1861) was an important Swiss lawyer and politician. He was a member of the Federal Council from 1848 to 1861. He also became the very first President of the Swiss Confederation in 1848. He served as president again in 1852, 1855, and 1858. Furrer played a big role in creating modern Switzerland. He was a member of the Radical Party.
Contents
Jonas Furrer's Early Life and Education
Jonas Furrer was born in Winterthur, a city in the canton of Zürich, on March 3, 1805. His father, also named Jonas Furrer, was a locksmith. His mother was Anna Magdalena Hanhart.
He went to school in his hometown. In 1824, he began studying law at the University of Zürich. He continued his studies in Germany, first at the University of Heidelberg and then at the University of Göttingen. After finishing his education, Furrer returned to Winterthur. There, he started his career as a lawyer.
Beginning His Political Career
In 1832, Jonas Furrer became a licensed lawyer. That same year, he married Friederike Sulzer. She was the daughter of Johann Heinrich Sulzer.
When he was 29 years old, in 1834, Furrer was elected to the Cantonal Council of Zürich. This was like a local government council for the canton. He served there until 1839. He was elected again in 1842. In the Cantonal Council, he was a leader for the Liberal group. They were against the Conservative government at the time. In 1845, he became the president of the Council of State of Zürich.
Building Modern Switzerland
In 1847, Furrer was chosen to be part of a special group. Their job was to find a peaceful solution for the Sonderbund War. This was a civil war in Switzerland. After the war ended and the federal side won, Furrer was elected to the Council of States in 1848.
He made a very important contribution to writing the 1848 constitution. This new constitution created Switzerland as a federal state. Because of his big role, Furrer was elected as the first President of the Swiss Confederation. This made him the head of Switzerland's new government, the Federal Council. The Federal Council has seven members.
Work as a Federal Councilor
Jonas Furrer served as a Federal Councilor from 1848 until he passed away in 1861. During his time in office, he led several government departments. He was especially known for his work in the Federal Department of Justice and Police. He made many important changes there. He also showed great skill as the head of the Political Department, handling diplomatic matters.
He helped solve problems for people who didn't have a clear citizenship. In 1850, he helped pass a law that protected couples from different religions. He also started government offices to help solve disagreements between the Swiss government and the different cantons.
Personal Life and Legacy
Jonas Furrer died while still in office on July 25, 1861. He also wrote a book in 1832 called Das Erbrecht der Stadt Winterthur. This book was about inheritance law in Winterthur.
See also
In Spanish: Jonas Furrer para niños
