Alfons Frederik Siffer (21 March 1850 – 3 March 1941) was a Belgian politician and publisher of Catholic works, including the cultural reviews ''

Het Belfort ''DW B'' is the oldest literary magazine in Flanders that is still in print. It was first published as ''Dietsche Warande en Belfort'', co-founded by Marie-Elisabeth Belpaire, as a merger between two earlier literary magazines, ''Dietsche Warande' ...

'' and ''

Le Magasin littéraire et scientifique ''Le Magasin littéraire et scientifique'', from 1891 simply ''Le Magasin littéraire'', was a French-language review of science and culture published in Ghent, Belgium, from 1884 to 1898. Initially quarterly, it was published every two months 1885 ...

''.

Life

Siffer was born in Zomergem on 21 March 1850 and studied at the diocesan secondary schools in Eeklo, Oudenaarde and

Sint-Niklaas Sint-Niklaas (; french: Saint-Nicolas, ) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Sint-Niklaas proper and the towns of Belsele, Nieuwkerken-Waas, and . Sint-Nikl ...

. He briefly attended the

Catholic University of Leuven University of Leuven or University of Louvain (french: Université de Louvain, link=no; nl, Universiteit Leuven, link=no) may refer to: * Old University of Leuven (1425–1797) * State University of Leuven (1817–1835) * Catholic University of ...

, and qualified as a notary in Ghent. In 1875 he was a co-founder of the Davidsfonds in Ghent, serving as chair 1910–1930. He was an active fundraiser for Catholic schools and for local libraries throughout his life. On 14 January 1879 he married Marie Virginie Fierlefeyn. They had three children.Karel Velle, "Siffer, Alfons Frederik", in '' Nationaal Biografisch Woordenboek'', vol. 10 (Brussels, 1983), 590-594. With capital from his wife's half-sister, Sophie Léliart, he set up in business as a book dealer and publisher, supplying textbooks for Catholic schools, annuals and bulletins for clubs and societies, luxury albums, specialist journals and newspapers. He became the main publisher to the Royal Academy of Dutch language and literature. He invested a considerable part of his profits in mining ventures in Ukraine, which were lost after the

Russian Revolution The Russian Revolution was a period of Political revolution (Trotskyism), political and social revolution that took place in the former Russian Empire which began during the First World War. This period saw Russia abolish its monarchy and ad ...

. He was elected to Ghent city council 1895–1912 and 1921–1939, serving as alderman of public works 1909–1912. As acting mayor he gave an opening address to the University of Ghent at the beginning of the 1909 academic year; this was the first to be given in Dutch. In 1911 a banquet was organised in Ghent to congratulate him on being honoured with the dual distinction of Commander in the Order of St. Gregory the Great and Commander in the

Order of Leopold Order of Leopold may refer to: * Order of Leopold (Austria), founded in 1808 by emperor Francis I of Austria and discontinued in 1918 * Order of Leopold (Belgium), founded in 1832 by king Leopold I of Belgium * Order of Leopold II, founded in Congo ...

. In 1912 he was elected to the

Belgian parliament The Federal Parliament is the bicameral parliament of Belgium. It consists of the Chamber of Representatives (Dutch: , french: Chambre des Représentants, german: Abgeordnetenkammer) and the Senate (Dutch: , french: Sénat, german: Senat). It s ...

for the constituency Ghent-Eeklo, and spoke in support of the use of Dutch in public life and in the army. Under the

German occupation of Belgium during World War I The German occupation of Belgium (french: link=no, Occupation allemande, nl, Duitse bezetting) of World War I was a military occupation of Belgium by the forces of the German Empire between 1914 and 1918. Beginning in August 1914 with the ...

he publicly distanced himself from the "activists" calling for an independent Flanders. He was re-elected to parliament until 1932, becoming " Dean of the Chamber" in 1930. He died in Ghent on 3 March 1941.

Publications

;As author * ''Verslag over de werkzaamheden van het Gentsche Davidsfonds'' (Ghent, 1878) * ''Lied van den Katholieken Schoolpenning'', set to music by

Edgar Tinel Edgar Pierre Joseph Tinel (27 March 185428 October 1912) was a Belgian composer and pianist. He was born in Sinaai, today part of Sint-Niklaas in East Flanders, Belgium, and died in Brussels. After studies at the Brussels Conservatory with Lou ...

(Ghent, 1880) * ''Frans de Potter en Hendrik Claeys: biographische en letterkundige studie, ter gelegenheid hunner benoeming als leden der Koninklijke Vlaamsche Academie'' (Ghent, 1886) * ''Pater Servatius Dirks'' (Ghent, 1887) * ''Multatuli'' (Ghent, 1890)

Honours

* 1911: Commander in the Order of St. Gregory the Great * 1911: Commander in the

* 1932 : Knight grand Cross in the Order of Leopold II. Royal Decree, 26 November 1932.

References

Belgian politicians Recipients of the Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II 1850 births 1941 deaths {{Belgium-bio-stub