Alexandru A. Bădărău (April 9, 1859–March 27, 1927) was a

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

n politician, academic, and journalist.

History

Born in

Bădărăi Santa Mare is a commune in Botoșani County, Western Moldavia, Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hunga ...

Iași County Iași County () is a county (județ) of Romania, in Western Moldavia, with the administrative seat at Iași. It is the most populous county in Romania, after the Municipality of Bucharest (which has the same administrative level as that of a cou ...

(now in

Botoșani County Botoșani County () is a county (județ) of Romania, in Western Moldavia (encompassing a few villages in neighbouring Suceava County from Bukovina to the west as well), with the county seat at Botoșani. Demographics As of 1st of December 20 ...

), his father was the local mayor. He studied at the National College in

Iași Iași ( , , ; also known by other #Etymology and names, alternative names), also referred to mostly historically as Jassy ( , ), is the Cities in Romania, third largest city in Romania and the seat of Iași County. Located in the historical ...

, graduating first in his class in 1877. He then entered the

University of Iași The Alexandru Ioan Cuza University (; acronym: UAIC) is a public university located in , Romania. Founded by an 1860 decree of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, under whom the former was converted to a university, the University of , as it was named ...

, but was expelled in 1881 for participating in the socialist movement. Bădărău continued his education at the

University of Paris The University of Paris (), known Metonymy, metonymically as the Sorbonne (), was the leading university in Paris, France, from 1150 to 1970, except for 1793–1806 during the French Revolution. Emerging around 1150 as a corporation associated wit ...

, where he obtained a law degree, also earning a diploma from the

École Libre des Sciences Politiques Sciences Po () or Sciences Po Paris, also known as the Paris Institute of Political Studies (), is a public research university located in Paris, France, that holds the status of ''grande école'' and the legal status of . The university's unde ...

. He then took a doctorate in literature and philosophy from the Free University of Brussels. While there, he took part in a socialist circle that published ''Dacia viitoare'' magazine in 1883. After returning home in 1885, he became a French teacher at two schools in Iași as well as a psychology professor within the local university's literature faculty. Together with George Panu, he founded the Radical Democratic Party in 1888; this merged with the Conservative Party (PC) in 1897. He was elected to the Assembly of Deputies as a PC candidate. In 1908, he left the Conservative Party, following

Take Ionescu Take or Tache Ionescu (; born Dumitru Ghiță Ioan and also known as Demetriu G. Ionnescu; – 21 June 1922) was a Romanian Centrism, centrist politician, journalist, lawyer and diplomat, who also enjoyed reputation as a short story author. Sta ...

into the

Conservative-Democratic Party The Conservative-Democratic Party (, PCD) was a political party in Romania. Over the years, it had the following names: the Democratic Party, the Nationalist Conservative Party, or the Unionist Conservative Party. The Conservative-Democratic Part ...

. Bădărău was mayor of Iași from 1899 to 1901, undertaking a vigorous civic activity. One of his priorities was to create a public water-supply system to bring water from the

Prut River The Prut (also spelled in English as Pruth; , ) is a river in Eastern Europe. It is a left tributary of the Danube, and is long. Part of its course forms Romania's border with Moldova and Ukraine. Characteristics The Prut originates on the eas ...

to the city; he argued at length with his predecessor, Nicolae Gane, who favored bringing water from Timișești. After he left office, the Timișești variant was chosen, and Bădărău went there in April 1907 for the start of the works. He twice served as minister in Conservative cabinets: under Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino, he was

Justice Minister A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice, is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...

from December 1904 to June 1906; under

Titu Maiorescu Titu Liviu Maiorescu (; 15 February 1840 – 18 June 1917) was a Romanian literary critic and politician, founder of the ''Junimea'' Society. As a literary critic, he was instrumental in the development of Culture of Romania, Romanian culture in ...

, he was Public Works Minister from October 1912 to December 1913. After

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, he founded ''Opinia'' newspaper, where he was a frequent contributor. He died in IașiGiurescu, p. 56 and was buried in the city's Eternitatea Cemetery.

Notes

References

* Dinu C. Giurescu, ''Dicționar biografic de istorie a României''. Bucharest: Editura Meronia, 2008, {{DEFAULTSORT:Badarau, Alexandru 1859 births 1927 deaths Academic staff of Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Burials at Eternitatea cemetery Conservative Party (Romania, 1880–1918) politicians Conservative-Democratic Party politicians Free University of Brussels (1834–1969) alumni Mayors of Iași Members of the Chamber of Deputies (Romania) People from Botoșani County Romanian opinion journalists Romanian socialists Romanian schoolteachers Ministers of justice of Romania Ministers of public works of Romania University of Paris alumni Romanian expatriates in France People from the United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia