Wilhelm Matthias Naeff facts for kids
Wilhelm Matthias Naeff (born February 19, 1802 – died January 21, 1881) was an important Swiss politician. He was one of the first seven people to join the Swiss Federal Council when it was created in 1848. He served there for many years, until 1875.
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Who Was Wilhelm Matthias Naeff?
Wilhelm Matthias Naeff was born in a town called Altstätten in Switzerland. His family had lived in the Rhine Valley for a long time. His father was a successful merchant, which means he bought and sold goods.
Early Life and Education
Naeff went to Germany to study law at a university in Heidelberg. After finishing his studies, he came back to Switzerland. He soon became involved in politics. He was elected to the government of St. Gallen, which is like a state government in Switzerland.
At that time, Switzerland had some disagreements between two main political groups: the liberals and the conservatives. Naeff was known for not taking sides in these big arguments. The area where he lived, the Rhine Valley, was mostly liberal. This meant he had strong support from people who shared similar ideas.
A Long Political Career
Naeff was part of a special group called the "Siebnergruppe" (meaning "Group of Seven"). After a period when Napoleon's army occupied Switzerland, this group helped write the new Swiss constitution in 1848. This constitution is still the foundation for Switzerland's laws today.
On November 16, 1848, Naeff was chosen to be a member of the Swiss Federal Council. This council is like the main government body of Switzerland. He represented the Canton of St. Gallen. He stayed on the council for 27 years, which was much longer than most other politicians from that time!
Leading Different Departments
During his many years in office, Naeff was in charge of several different government departments. This shows how much experience he gained.
- From 1848 to 1852, he led the Department of Posts and Construction. This department handled mail services and building projects.
- In 1853, he was in charge of the Political Department. This department dealt with Switzerland's relationships with other countries.
- In 1854, he led the Department of Trade and Customs. This department managed trade and taxes on goods.
- From 1855 to 1859, he returned to the Department of Posts and Construction.
- From 1860 to 1866, he was head of the Department of Posts.
- From 1867 to 1872, he again led the Department of Trade and Customs.
- In 1873, he was in charge of the Department of Railway and Trade. This department focused on railways and business.
- From 1873 to 1875, he led the Department of Finance, which manages the country's money.
President of the Confederation
In 1853, Wilhelm Matthias Naeff also served as the President of the Confederation. This role meant he was the leader of the Federal Council for that year.
He finally left the Federal Council on December 31, 1875. Naeff was connected with the Free Democratic Party of Switzerland, which was a liberal political group.
