Hermann Roesler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Karl Friedrich Hermann Roesler | |
| Born | 18 December 1834 Lauf an der Pegnitz, Germany |
|---|---|
| Died | 2 December 1894 Bolzano, Austria-Hungary |
| Nationality |  Germany |
| Other names | Hermann Roesler |
| Occupation | legal scholar, economist, foreign advisor to Japan |
| Known for | Foreign advisor to Meiji Japan |
Karl Friedrich Hermann Roesler (born 18 December 1834 - died 2 December 1894) was a German legal scholar, economist, and foreign advisor to Meiji period Japan.
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[edit] Early life
Roesler was born in Lauf an der Pegnitz (Middle Franconia) and attended the Melanchthon-Gymnasium in Nuremberg. He studied law and economics in University of Erlangen and Munich from 1852 to 1856. In 1856, he passed the first, in 1858 the second state examinations and in 1860, he earned both a doctoral degree in law from Erlangen University and a doctoral degree in economics from the University of Tübingen. The following year, he passed his habilitation and was awarded a full professorship at the University of Rostock.
[edit] Life in Japan
In 1878, Roesler was invited by the government of Japan to serve as an advisor on international law to the Foreign Ministry. One compelling reason for his choice to move to Japan was the fact that, Roesler had become a Roman Catholic in 1878, and faced dismissal from service in Mecklenburg due to his religion. A timely meeting with Japanese ambassador to Germany, Aoki Shuzo introduced Roesler to a new opportunity.
In 1884, Roesler became an adviser to the Cabinet. As the request of Ito Hirobumi Roesler assisted Inoue Kowashi and took an influential role in the preparation of the draft of the Japanese Commercial Code and the Constitution of the Empire of Japan. Roesler recommended that the Japanese politicians strengthen the rights of the Emperor and establish the Constitution by the will of the Emperor, not by the will of the people.
Roesler remained in Japan until 1893. While in Japan, relationship to the German legation in Japan and his socialization with the German expatriate community was almost non-existent.
After leaving Japan, Roesler and his family moved to Bolzano, the part of Austria-Hungary where he died shortly after.
[edit] Works
- Lehrbuch des Deutschen Verwaltungsrechts (Textbook of Administrative Law). Erlangen: Deichert 1872 f.
- Die deutsche Nation und das Preußenthum (The German Nation and Prussianity). Zürich: Schmidt 1893.
[edit] External links
- Article on Roesler in the Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie
[edit] References
- Losano, Mario G.:Berichte aus Japan, 1879-1880 (Reports from Japan, 1879-1880. Milano: Ed. Unicopli 1984.
- Rauscher, Anton: Die soziale Rechtsidee und die Überwindung des wirtschaftsliberalen Denkens: Hermann Roesler und sein Beitrag zum Verständnis von Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft (The idea of social law and the overcoming of liberal economic thought. Hermann Roesler und his contribution to the understanding of economy and society). München: Schoeningh 1969.
- Siemes, Johannes: Hermann Roesler und die Einführung des deutschen Staatsrechts in Japan (Hermann Roesler and the introduction of German constitutional law in Japan. Tokyo 1962.
- -- Hermann Roesler and the making of the Meiji State: an examination of his background and his influence on the founders of modern Japan. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot 1968.
- Suzuki Yasuzô: Hermann Roesler und die japanische Verfassung (Hermann Roesler and the Japanese constitution). Tokyo: Sophia University 1941.
