Wilhelm Matthias Naeff

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Wilhelm Matthias Naeff
Wilhelm Matthias Naeff

Wilhelm Matthias Naeff (February 19, 1802 - January 21, 1881) was a Swiss politician and one of the seven initial members of the Swiss Federal Council (1848-1875).

Naeff was born in Altstätten into a long-established Rhine-Valley's family. Already his father was an influential merchant. Naeff studied law in Heidelberg (Germany), and after his return to Switzerland, he was elected to the cantonal (state) government of St. Gallen. Naeff is well-known for not interventing in the conflict between liberals and conservatives, which dominated Switzerland at that time. The Rhine-Valley was a stronghold of the liberals, which is why Naeff could depend on his supporters.

Naeff was a member of the "Siebnergruppe", a group of seven people which, after the Napoleonic occupation era, drafted the 1848 constitution of the Swiss Confederation, which to date still is the effective constitution. He was elected member of the Swiss Federal Council of ministers on November 16, 1848, as a representative of St. Gallen. He beloned to this board for 27 years, considerably longer than all of his counterparts from that time.

While his long term in office Naeff increasingly lost influence, and he adhered a reputation as "deadhead". He survived various reelections only with thigth majorities. On December 31, 1875, he finally resigned. Naeff was affiliated with the Free Democratic Party of Switzerland (liberal democrats/radicals).


During his long tenure, he headed the following departments:

In 1853, he was President of the Confederation, presiding the council. He resigned on 31 December 1875.

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Preceded by
n/a one of the first seven		 Member of the Swiss Federal Council
1848–1875		 Succeeded by
Fridolin Anderwert