Gustave Ador

Gustave Ador

Gustave Ador (December 23, 1845 – March 31, 1928) was a Swiss politician. In 1919, he became President of the Confederation.

Biography

Origins

He was born in Cologny. He was the grandson of Jean Pierre Ador, an immigrant from Vaud, who obtained his Genevan citizenship in 1814. He studied law at the academy (now the university) of Geneva, and in 1868 became a lawyer.

Early political career

In 1871 he started his political career as a member of the communal council of Cologny, and was twice mayor, in 1878-9 and 1883-5. He was a member of the cantonal parliament 1874-6, and continuously from 1878 to 1915 save for a short break in 1902. In 1878-9 he represented Geneva in the Swiss Conseil des États. Then he became a member of the executive of the canton of Geneva, being put in charge of the Department of Justice and Police. He resigned after an unfavourable election in 1880, but once more became a member of the cantonal executive in 1885, and for 12 years had charge of the cantonal finances.

National Council

In 1889 he became a member of the Swiss Conseil National (Swiss National Council), and remained so until 1917, being elected President of the Swiss National Council in 1901. He was president of the cantonal executive in 1890, 1892, and 1896. In 1894 he became lieutenant-colonel in the Swiss Army. In 1914 he founded in Geneva the association for facilitating communications between prisoners of war and the central Geneva agency, and succeeded in giving this enterprise great importance and a widespread extension.

Federal Council

After the enforced resignation of Arthur Hoffmann, Ador, in order to soothe the Entente, became a federal councillor (a member of the Federal Executive) on June 26, 1917. He was entrusted with the Department of Foreign Affairs. Towards the end of 1918 he was elected by Parliament to be the Swiss President for 1919, but retired from the Federal Executive at the end of his year of office, on December 31, 1919. During his time as councillor, along with being in the Department of Foreign Affairs (1917), he was later in the Department of Home Affairs (1918 - 1919). He was affiliated with the Liberal Party.

Notes

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922). "Ador, Gustave". Encyclopædia Britannica (12th ed.). London & New York. 

External links

• Gustave Ador in the Dodis database of the Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland
• Gustave Ador in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.

• Fondation Gustave Ador (French)
• Profile of Gustave Ador with election results on the website of the Swiss Federal Council.

v t e President of the Swiss Confederation (list) 1848 – 1874 Furrer Druey Munzinger Furrer Naeff Frey-Herosé Furrer Stämpfli Fornerod Furrer Stämpfli Frey-Herosé Knüsel Stämpfli Fornerod Dubs Schenk Knüsel Fornerod Dubs Welti Dubs Schenk Welti Cérésole Schenk 1875 – 1899 Scherer Welti Heer Schenk Hammer Welti Anderwert Droz Bavier Ruchonnet Welti Schenk Deucher Droz Hertenstein Hammer Ruchonnet Welti Hauser Schenk Frey Zemp Lachenal Deucher Ruffy Müller 1900 – 1924 Hauser Brenner Zemp Deucher Comtesse Ruchet Forrer Müller Brenner Deucher Comtesse Ruchet Forrer Müller Hoffmann Motta Decoppet Schulthess Calonder Ador Motta Schulthess Haab Scheurer Chuard 1925 – 1949 Musy Häberlin Motta Schulthess Haab Musy Häberlin Motta Schulthess Pilet-Golaz Minger Meyer Motta Baumann Etter Pilet-Golaz Wetter Etter E. Celio Stampfli von Steiger Kobelt Etter E. Celio Nobs 1950 – 1974 Petitpierre Steiger Kobelt Etter Rubattel Petitpierre Feldmann Streuli Holenstein Chaudet Petitpierre Wahlen Chaudet Spühler von Moos Tschudi Schaffner Bonvin Spühler von Moos Tschudi Gnägi N. Celio Bonvin Brugger 1975 – 1999 Graber Gnägi Furgler Ritschard Hürlimann Chevallaz Furgler Honegger Aubert Schlumpf Furgler Egli Aubert Stich Delamuraz Koller Cotti Felber Ogi Stich Villiger Delamuraz Koller Cotti Dreifuss 2000 – present Ogi Leuenberger Villiger Couchepin Deiss Schmid Leuenberger Calmy-Rey Couchepin Merz Leuthard Calmy-Rey Widmer-Schlumpf Maurer Burkhalter

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