Menyhért Lónyay

Menyhért Count de Lónyay Nagylónya et Vásárosnamény ( born January 6, 1822 in Lónya, Szabolcs- Szatmár- Bereg, † November 3, 1884 Budapest) was a Hungarian politician and 1871/72 Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Hungary.

Life

Menyhért was the son of János Lónyay (1796-1859) a member of a Protestant noble family. He studied law in Pest and in 1843 member of parliament for the opposition under Ferenc Deák. In 1845 he married Emilia Kappel ( 1825-1888 ), with whom he had four children. During the revolution of 1848/49 he was Under Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. Therefore he had after the defeat of Hungary in 1849 but left the country and was able to return the end of 1850 from Paris for an amnesty. Initially he worked in the banking and insurance industries, founded in 1858, the first Hungarian Insurance Fund and 1866 a credit institution.

After the compromise with Austria in 1867 was Lónyay Finance Minister in the government of Gyula Andrássy. He modernized, politically dominated by reform liberalism, the finances of the country and resulted in state finances strict austerity measures. On 21 May 1870 he became the common k.u.k. Appointed finance minister, as he confidence of Emperor Franz Joseph earned. In August 1871, he was elevated to the rank of count and on November 14, 1871 the Hungarian Prime Minister.

When in November 1872 corruption charges against Lónyay were collected in the Reichstag, he resigned on December 2. In 1875 he was still a member of the magnate house and stayed until 1882 deputy in the Reichstag and President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Writings

• From the public affairs. 2 volumes, Budapest 1846.
• From the Treasury. 2 volumes, Budapest 1869.
• About public affairs. The Bank question. Tettey, Budapest 1875
• Earl Széchenyi Stefan and his posthumous writings. Publisher Rath, Budapest 1875.