Bernhard Hammer

Bernhard Hammer ( March 3, 1822 in Olten, † April 6, 1907 in Solothurn ) was a Swiss politician, lawyer, judge, officer and diplomat. He first embarked on a legal career and later served as a career officer and ambassador in the German Reich. In December 1875 he was a representative of the Liberal group ( today's FDP) elected to the Federal Council, where he served until 1890. In his 15-year tenure, he was almost constantly in front of the Department of Finance. From 1890 to 1896 he was a National. After that, he was Chairman of the Board, among other things, the Gotthard Railway Company.

Biography

College, work and Canton policy

The son of the landlord of the inn, " Half Moon" in Olten visited the College in Solothurn, where he joined the fraternity Zofingia. This was followed by the study of physics and natural history at the University of Geneva. He then studied law and philosophy at the Albert -Ludwigs- University of Freiburg (where the Corps Helvetia ) at the Friedrich- Wilhelms- University of Berlin and at the University of Zurich. In 1844 he received the patent of the canton of Solothurn as a lawyer and notary, and two years later he opened his own office in Solothurn.

In 1853 he married Gertrud Jaeggi, the same year he was elected president of the district court Bucheggberg War Stetten. From 1856 to 1868 he was a member of the Solothurn cantonal and stood as a leader of the Old Liberals in opposition to the ruling radical liberals. For this reason he had to give up his position as president of the court after three years.

Military and diplomacy

In addition, pursued a military career hammer. The participant in the federal battle was promoted to Major in 1858, in 1862 the Supreme. From the later General Hans Herzog in 1861 he received the post of artillery Upper instructor. Since Hammer was now operates exclusively as a career officer, he moved to Thun and sold his shares in a private bank, which he had co-founded in 1856.

Federal Jakob Dubs appointed him in 1868 to the Minister in Berlin. This appointment came as rather a surprise, but Hammer was a renowned military expert what was in Prussia beneficial. After the founding of the German Empire in 1871, he introduced several sites and presentations, including a trade treaty and several agreements in the railway and postal services.

Bundesrat

By the end of 1875 four cabinet ministers had announced her resignation. The choice of the seventh member was very controversial: the western Swiss radical liberals who have actually had the right to the seventh seat, could not agree on a common candidate and shattered their forces. The radical liberals from the German Switzerland disagreed. Hammer, who had never belonged to the National or Council of States, was supported by the liberal center and was considered a geek. But then subjected the Catholic Conservatives in the fourth round of voting their candidate back and supported Hammer, who received the fifth ballot 85 of 169 valid votes. For the first time ever, so that the French-speaking Switzerland was represented by only one Bundesrat.

Hammer received the Finance and Customs Department assigned, the time had little prestige because of the small number of competencies. However, this changed over time, as the total revision of the Federal Constitution adopted in 1874 left to get numerous new tasks the federal government. In 1879 he was one year temporarily the Political Department before because he rules as the former President was simultaneously according to Foreign Minister.

From its predecessor Hammer had taken a substantial deficit. He managed to balance this to 1878 with new duties, bonds and consequent austerity. As of 1879, he could show a surplus each year. During his tenure involves the introduction of compulsory military compensation, the bill law and a revised Coinage Act. He also prepared the banknote monopoly of the Federation and the establishment of the National Bank. 1889 was hammer a second time President; November 27, 1888, he had to end the year on behalf of the deceased Wilhelm Hertenstein held this position. Since Numa Droz claimed the Political Department shall for himself, he did not have to give up his department.

As a representative of the liberal center Hammer was a geek in the radical- liberal -dominated state government. Several times he made the re-election narrowly, with the support of the Catholic Conservatives ( the liberal Catholic had not been exposed in the culture war, but a mediator taken ). In 1881 he was confirmed for example by only one vote on the absolute majority. Also in 1881 his wife died three years later he married Anna Froelicher.

Other activities

On December 31, 1888 Hammer resigned as Federal. But he remained politically active and in 1890 elected to the National. He presided over the State Accounts Commission and was a member of that Commission, the prepared commercial treaties with Germany and Austria - Hungary. After he was re-elected in 1893 only just, he declared in 1896 his final retirement from politics.

Hammer was next to a member of several boards of directors of major companies, including in the Central Railway, the Gotthard Railway Company and the Solothurn Cantonal Bank. 1901/1902 he chaired the Gotthard Railway.