Gaspard-Théodore-Ignace de la Fontaine (; 6 January 1787 – 11 February 1871)Thewes (2011), p. 15 was a

Luxembourg Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...

ish

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

and

jurist A jurist is a person with expert knowledge of law; someone who analyzes and comments on law. This person is usually a specialist legal scholar, mostly (but not always) with a formal education in law (a law degree) and often a Lawyer, legal prac ...

. He led the Orangist movement and was the first prime minister of Luxembourg, serving for four months, from 1 August 1848 until 6 December of the same year. From 1807 to 1810 he studied law in Paris and in the same year became a lawyer in Luxembourg City. In 1816 he became a member of the ''États provinciaux''. When the

Belgian Revolution The Belgian Revolution (, ) was a conflict which led to the secession of the southern provinces (mainly the former Southern Netherlands) from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and the establishment of an independent Kingdom of Belgium. The ...

broke out, he supported William I, and was appointed to the government commission that controlled Luxembourg City. From 1841 to 1848 he was the governor of the Grand-Duchy. On 1 August 1848 he became the first head of government of Luxembourg and was also responsible for the areas of foreign affairs, justice, and culture. The government fell on 2 December 1849. De la Fontaine was from 1849 to 1851 a member of the council of Luxembourg City. In 1857 he was appointed the first president of the newly established Council of State, which he remained for 11 years. His third son, Edmond, better known by his pen name 'Dicks', became Luxembourg's national poet, and one of the fathers of Luxembourgian literature. His two other sons were the botanist Léon de la Fontaine and the zoologist Alphonse de la Fontaine.

Honours

*Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion *Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown *Commander of the Order of Leopold

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References

* , - , - , - Prime ministers of Luxembourg Ministers for foreign affairs of Luxembourg Ministers for justice of Luxembourg Councillors in Luxembourg City Presidents of the Council of State of Luxembourg Members of the Council of State of Luxembourg Independent politicians in Luxembourg Luxembourgian Orangists 19th-century Luxembourgian lawyers 1787 births 1871 deaths People from Luxembourg City Alumni of the Athénée de Luxembourg 19th-century Luxembourgian politicians {{Luxembourg-politician-stub

Honours

See also

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References