Jakob Robert Steiger

Jakob Robert Steiger (7 June 1801, in Geuensee – 5 April 1862) was a Swiss politician and President of the Swiss National Council (1848/1849).

Early life and education

Steiger was born to peasants in Geuensee near Sursee.[1] His father was from Büron.[1] With the support of one of his teachers, he studied Latin in Sursee and later also attended high school in Lucerne.[2] He began to study theology in 1823.[2] Not satisfied with this choice, Steiger soon settled to Geneva, where he attended lectures of Jacques Denys Choisy, aiming for a career as a medic.[3] Having studied medicine in Freiburg im Bresigau in Germany until 1826 he moved to Paris, where he then also graduated the same year.[3]

Already in high school, he developed political interests, holding a speech remembering the victory at the Battle of Sempach or taking part in students protests against the expulsion of the Professor of Philosophy Iganz Paul Vital Troxler[1] an influential figure in his life.[3]

Professional career

After having obtained the license to work as a medic also by the Canton of Lucerne.[4] He established himself as a medic in Büron.[1] Additionally he also wrote for the political journal Eidgenossen, which was published first in Sursee, later in Lucerne.[1] In 1830 he was involved in organizing the liberal politics in the countryside of Lucerne which demanded a new constitution for the Canton Lucerne[5] with less power to the aristorcary.[6]

Political career

In late 1830 he was elected into the Constitutional Assembly[7] which crafted the Constitution of 1831.[1] Later that year he was elected into the Grand council and then also the Executive council of Lucerne.[8] He became the president of the Grand Council becoming in 1834.[9] In 1837 he did not stand again for the executive council, alleging the political situation has developed to his satisfaction.[10] In 1841 Steiger was not re-elected into the grand council and following rebelled against the reigning conservative government, specifically against the invitation of the Jesuits to Lucerne.[1] In 1844 he was arrested for his rebellious activities but soon released on bail.[1] In 1845 he was again arrested and sentenced to death.[1] Over 3000 petitions for pardon were written and the sentence caused also some intervention by neighboring countries, the Kingdom of Sardinia offered themselves to negotiate a pardon and exile for Steiger.[1] Eventually Steiger managed to escape and established himself in Winterthur, where he worked as a medic.[1]

In 1848 he was elected into the National Council of Switzerland which he stayed until 1852, becoming its president in 1848.[11] He was also in the Executive Council of Lucerne until 1852, when he resigned after having lost in his aim to support he construction of railway by the state.[12] Instead, the National Council ordered the railways to be constructed with private funds.[12] Josef Martin Knüsel was elected as Steigers successor.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Erst zum Tod verurteilt, dann als Held gefeiert". Surseer Woche (in German). 2019-04-09. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  2. 1 2 Brändli, Alfred (1953). Jakob Robert Steiger (1801/1862) als Politiker und Staatsmann. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte des schweizerischen Frühliberalismus. Buchdruckerei Werner Blättler Luzern. p. 9.
  3. 1 2 3 Brändli, Alfred (1953).pp.9–10
  4. ↑ Brändli, Alfred (1953).p.10
  5. ↑ Brändli, Alfred (1953).pp.18–20
  6. ↑ Brändli, Alfred (1953).p.25
  7. ↑ Brändli, Alfred (1953).p.21
  8. ↑ Brändli, Alfred (1953).p.24
  9. ↑ Brändli, Alfred (1953).p.41
  10. ↑ Brändli, Alfred (1953).p.42
  11. ↑ "Ratsmitglied ansehen". www.parlament.ch. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  12. 1 2 3 Steiger, Alois (2015). Josef Martin Knüsel, Der vergessene Luzerner Bundesrat (in German). Gemeinnützige Gesellschaft der Stadt Luzern. p. 14. ISBN 978-3-033-04958-1.

Works

Further reading

  • Urs W. Widmer (1978). Jakob Robert Steiger, 1801–1862. Arzt und Politiker. Zürich: Juris-Verlag. ISBN 9783260044076.
  • Alfred Brändli (1953). Jakob Robert Steiger (1801/1862) als Politiker und Staatsmann. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte des schweizerischen Frühliberalismus. Luzern: Blättler.
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