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Celebrations & ConcertsPublished on 1 March 2023

BiG lecture series: The Seven Lives of Emil Frey (1838–1922) – from prisoner of war to federal councillor

Event Date

9
Mar
2023
  • Thursday 17:30 - 19:30
Papiermühlestrasse 21a 3014 Bern 2601849.319933202 1200896.6449548847

The author Gregor Saladin takes a look at the life of the remarkable federal councillor Emil Frey, his part in the American Civil War, his career on his return to Switzerland and the six years he spent as head of the military department.

Emil Frey, who died 100 years ago, was one of Switzerland’s most remarkable federal councillors. As a native of Arlesheim, he is the only member of the federal government to this day to have come from the Basel area, and the only one not to have completed formal schooling. Strictly speaking, he was not a Swiss citizen either. But as a strong advocate of radical democracy, he was nonetheless an influential figure in Swiss politics in the last quarter of the 19th century.

Gregor Saladin, author of a recently published biography of Emil Frey, focuses in his lecture on the part Frey played in the American Civil War, his subsequent career in Switzerland and on his six years as head of the military department.

The lecture will be in German. Drinks will be served in the library cafeteria afterwards.

Attendance is free of charge. Seats are limited and can be reserved in advance by sending an email to bibliothek@gs-vbs.admin.ch. If you do not hear back from us, your seat reservation is confirmed.

The event is fully booked.