Wilhelm Matthias Naeff

Wilhelm Matthias Naeff

Wilhelm Matthias Naeff (19 February 1802 – 21 January 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 intervening in the conflict, which dominated Switzerland at that time, between liberals and conservatives. 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 who, after the Napoleonic occupation, drafted the 1848 constitution of the Swiss Confederation,the basis of the current constitution. He was elected to the Swiss Federal Council of ministers on 16 November 1848, as a representative of St. Gallen. He stayed there for 27 years, considerably longer than all of his counterparts from that time.

While, in his long term in office, Naeff increasingly lost influence and adhered a reputation as "deadhead". He was re-elected by only small margins. On 31 December 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:

• Department of Posts and Construction (1848–1852)
• Political Department (1853)
• Department of Trade and Customs (1854)
• Department of Posts and Construction (1855–1859)
• Department of Posts (1860–1866)
• Department of Trade and Customs (1867–1872)
• Department of Finance (1873)
• Department of Railway and Trade (1873)
• Department of Finance (1874–1875)

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

External links

• Profile of Wilhelm Matthias Naeff with election results on the website of the Swiss Federal Council.

• Wilhelm Matthias Naeff in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.

• Media related to Wilhelm Matthias Naeff at Wikimedia Commons

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