Paul-Émile (Paul Emil) Janson (30 May 1872 – 3 March 1944) was a francophone
Belgian
Belgian may refer to:
* Something of, or related to, Belgium
* Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent
* Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German
*Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...
liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
politician and the
prime minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister i ...
from 1937 to 1938. During the
German occupation
German-occupied Europe refers to the sovereign countries of Europe which were wholly or partly occupied and civil-occupied (including puppet governments) by the military forces and the government of Nazi Germany at various times between 1939 an ...
, he was arrested as a
political prisoner
A political prisoner is someone imprisoned for their political activity. The political offense is not always the official reason for the prisoner's detention.
There is no internationally recognized legal definition of the concept, although n ...
and died in a German concentration camp in 1944.
Biography
Born in
Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
, Janson was the son of liberal statesman
Paul Janson (died 1913). He studied law at the Free University of Brussels (now split into the
Université Libre de Bruxelles and the
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) () is a Dutch and English-speaking research university located in Brussels, Belgium.The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is one of the five universities officially recognised by the Flemish government. listof all ...
), practised as a lawyer, and also taught at the university.
Political career
Janson was elected as a liberal to the
Belgian Chamber of Representatives in
1910
Events
January
* January 13 – The first public radio broadcast takes place; live performances of the operas '' Cavalleria rusticana'' and ''Pagliacci'' are sent out over the airwaves, from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York C ...
. He was not re-elected in
1912, but he was again elected in
1914
This year saw the beginning of what became known as World War I, after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the Austrian throne was Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip. It als ...
. He held various minister posts including War (1920), Justice (1927–1931; 1932–1934; 1939, 1940) and
minister without portfolio (1940–1944). He was made an honorary
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a Minister of State is a Junior Minister of government, who is assigned to assist a specific Cabinet Minister. In ...
in 1931.
He served as the
30th Prime Minister of Belgium in 1937–1938. In the early part of the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
, Janson served as Foreign minister, and as minister without portfolio, in the government of
Hubert Pierlot
Hubert Marie Eugène Pierlot (, 23 December 1883 – 13 December 1963) was a Belgian politician and Prime Minister of Belgium, serving between 1939 and 1945. Pierlot, a lawyer and jurist, served in World War I before entering politics in the 192 ...
. He remained in
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
when the government in exile moved to
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
. In 1943 he was detained by the occupying
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
forces and incarcerated in the
Buchenwald concentration camp. He died there in 1944.
His sister
Marie Janson
Marie Janson (23 July 1873 – 8 March 1960) was a Belgian politician and the first woman to serve in the Belgian senate. She was a daughter of Paul Janson and Anna-Augustine Amoré.
Born in Brussels, her father Paul Janson was leading me ...
was the first woman to be elected to the Chamber of Representatives in 1921 and the mother of
Paul-Henri Spaak
Paul-Henri Charles Spaak (; 25 January 1899 – 31 July 1972) was an influential Belgian Socialist politician, diplomat and statesman. Along with Robert Schuman, Alcide De Gasperi and Konrad Adenauer he was a leader in the formation of the ...
, Janson's nephew and the man who directly succeeded him as Prime Minister in 1938.
Honours
* Minister of state, by Royal Decree.
* Commander in the
Order of Leopold.
[RD 15.11.1921]
Commemoration
* A street in
Ixelles
(French, ) or ( Dutch, ), is one of the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. Located to the south-east of Brussels' city centre, it is geographically bisected by the City of Brussels. It is also bordered by the munic ...
is named ''Rue Paul Emile Janson'' in his honour.
* The
Université Libre de Bruxelles has an auditorium named after him.
* a subway (metro) station in
Charleroi is named after him.
See also
*
Liberal Party
The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left.
__TOC__ Active liberal parties
This is a li ...
References
Sources
* D'Ydewalle, Ch., Silhouettes politiques : Paul-Emile Janson, in : Revue Générale, LXII, 1929, p. 86–90.
* Miroir, A., in : Parisel, W., Histoire de La Loge ''Les Vrais amis de l'Union et du Progrès Réunis'' 1892–1980, Brussel, 1980, p. 283–285.
* Stengers, J., Paul-Emile Janson, in : Académie Royale de Belgique, Bulletin de la Commission des Lettres et des Sciences Morales et Politiques, 5e série, LIX, 1973–1976, p. 202–281.
External links
Paul-Emile Jansonat Liberaal Archief
Paul-Emile Jansonat the Prime Minister's Office
{{DEFAULTSORT:Janson, Paul-Emile
1872 births
1944 deaths
Belgian Ministers of State
Belgian people who died in Buchenwald concentration camp
Free University of Brussels (1834–1969) alumni
Politicians who died in Nazi concentration camps
Prime Ministers of Belgium
Belgian civilians killed in World War II
Members of the Belgian government in exile
Politicians from Brussels
Belgian Ministers of Defence