Baron Félix de Blochausen (5 March 1834 – 15 November 1915),Thewes (2011), p. 47 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 ...

. An Orangist, he was prime minister of Luxembourg, serving for ten years, from 26 December 1874 until 20 February 1885. He was the son of Frederic Joseph Prosper de Blochausen (1802-1886), who had been Chancellor of State of Luxembourg in

The Hague The Hague ( ) is the capital city of the South Holland province of the Netherlands. With a population of over half a million, it is the third-largest city in the Netherlands. Situated on the west coast facing the North Sea, The Hague is the c ...

Minister for the Interior

He had a brief career as a lawyer and member of the Chamber of Deputies. Then, from 14 December 1866 to 3 December 1867 he was Director-General (Minister) for the Interior in the government of Victor de Tornaco. From 1872 to 1873 he was President of the

Chamber of Deputies The chamber of deputies is the lower house in many bicameral legislatures and the sole house in some unicameral legislatures. Description Historically, French Chamber of Deputies was the lower house of the French Parliament during the Bourb ...

Prime minister

On 26 December 1874, after Emmanuel Servais' resignation, de Blochausen was appointed prime minister and Director-General for Foreign Affairs. From 21 September to 12 October 1882, he was Director-General of Finances. Under his government, the criminal code and education were reformed. On 20 February 1885 de Blochausen had to resign due to an insider trading scandal.

Domestic policy

The Blochausen government introduced reforms of primary education.Thewes (2011), p. 44 Against the opposition of conservative Deputies, it made it obligatory for children to attend school for six years, from ages 6 to 12. The reform gave rise to far-reaching debates over the role of the state in society, and the relationship between church and state. The new law made it the state's duty to organise public education, whereas the church retained a level of influence over education on the local level, and had powers of supervision over teachers.Thewes (2011). p. 44-45

Post-government career

From 1893 until his death, Félix de Blochausen was the president of the ''Société agricole grand-ducale''. He died on 15 November 1915 at his birthplace, Birtrange Castle.

Honours

* Grand Cordon in the order of Leopold.Moniteur Belge, Partie Officielle; 1879.-49e jg. n° 179. * Grand cross in the order of the oak crown. * Grand cross in the order of the Netherlands Lion. * Grand Cross Order of the Falcon, Saxe * Knight 2nd class order of the House of Nassau. * Knight First Class order of the Red Eagle * Knight 1st Class Order of the Prussian Crown. * Grand officer Legion of Honour * 1st class order of Waldeck and Pyrmont.

Footnotes

References

* , - , - 1834 births 1915 deaths Alumni of the Athénée de Luxembourg Prime ministers of Luxembourg Ministers for foreign affairs of Luxembourg Ministers for finances of Luxembourg Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg) Luxembourgian Orangists Luxembourgian barons 19th-century Luxembourgian politicians {{Luxembourg-politician-stub