Camille Huysmans
| Camille Huysmans | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Prime Minister of Belgium | |
| In office 3 August 1946 – 20 March 1947 | |
| Monarch | Charles (Regent) |
| Preceded by | Achille Van Acker |
| Succeeded by | Paul-Henri Spaak |
| President of the Chamber of Representatives | |
| In office 27 April 1954 – 11 November 1958 | |
| Preceded by | Frans Van Cauwelaert |
| Succeeded by | Paul Kronacker |
| In office 23 June 1936 – 21 April 1939 | |
| Preceded by | Jules Poncelet |
| Succeeded by | Frans Van Cauwelaert |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 May 1871 Bilzen, Belgium |
| Died | 23 February 1968 (aged 96) Antwerp, Belgium |
| Political party | Socialist Party |
| Alma mater | University of Liège |
Jean Joseph Camille Huysmans (born as Camiel Hansen 26 May 1871 – 23 February 1968) was a Belgian politician.
Huymans studied German philology at the University of Liège. He was a teacher from 1893 until 1897. In between these years he studied for his doctorate in German philology.
Huysmans joined the Belgische Werkliedenpartij (BWP), the predecessor of the Belgische Socialistische Partij (BSP) at a young age. He became a journalist for many socialist periodicals until 1904 and was thereafter active in the labour unions.
Between 1905 and 1922 Huysmans was secretary of the Second International. In that function he had many contacts with Sun Yat-sen, the leader of the first Chinese revolution, in 1911. His main task was creating an active peace function. At the Socialist Conference in Stockholm in 1917 he pleaded against continuing the war.
He was a fighter for the Flemish movement and fought for using Dutch at the University of Ghent. As Minister of Arts and Education he could pave the way for the Dutch language. In 1911 he proposed a bill, drafted by Lodewijk De Raet, together with the Roman Catholic Frans Van Cauwelaert and the liberal Louis Franck for the usage of Dutch at the University of Ghent. However, due to World War I, the University of Ghent would become a Flemish university in 1930.
In World War II he fled to London. He regained the function as secretary between 1939 and 1944, also as acting chairman. After World War II (at age 75) he became the 34th Prime Minister and led a government of socialists, liberals and communists. With an insufficient majority, this government lasted not long. In the next government, he was Minister of Education.
He remained very popular until old age. The national tribute for his 80th birthday attracted 100,000 visitors. At the age of 83 he became chairman of the Chamber of Representatives (lower house). He was a freemason, and a member of the lodge Les Amis Philanthropes of the Grand Orient of Belgium in Brussels.
Huysmans is considered a friend of the Jewish people, mainly due to his friendly attitude towards Jewish immigrants in Antwerp in the years 1920–1940 and the Zionist movement. Some streets and neighbourhoods in Israel bear his name.
Functions
- councillor in Brussels (1908–1921)
- education Schepen of Antwerp (1921–1933)
- mayor of Antwerp (1933–1940 and 1944–1946)
- councillor in Antwerp (1946–1968)
- member of the lower house (1910–1965)
- chairman of the lower house (1936–1939 and 1954–1958)
- Minister of Arts and Education (1925–1927)
- Prime Minister (1946–1947)
- Minister of Education (1947–1949)
Correspondence with Lenin
In his first term as secretary of the Second International he corresponded with Lenin between 1905 and 1914. The letters were published in 1963.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Frans Van Cauwelaert |
Mayor of Antwerp 1933–1940 |
Succeeded by Leo Delwaide |
| Preceded by Jules Poncelet |
President of the Chamber of Representatives 1936–1939 |
Succeeded by Frans Van Cauwelaert |
| Preceded by Emile Van Put |
Mayor of Antwerp 1944–1946 |
Succeeded by Willem Eekelers |
| Preceded by Achille Van Acker |
Prime Minister of Belgium 1946–1947 |
Succeeded by Paul-Henri Spaak |
| Preceded by Frans Van Cauwelaert |
President of the Chamber of Representatives 1954–1958 |
Succeeded by Paul Kronacker |
|