Étienne de Gerlache

Belgian noble, lawyer and politician (1785-1871)

Étienne Constantin, Baron de Gerlache (26 December 1785 – 10 February 1871) was a Belgian politician. He was born in Luxembourg, and died in Paris. Gerlache studied law. When Napoleon was emperor, Gerlache was part of the Supreme Court in Paris. When Belgium and the Netherlands joined, he was part of a court in Liège. During this time, he wrote several articles about law subjects. In 1826, he became a member of the States General of the Netherlands. During that time he became known for his eloquence as the leader of the Catholic opposition. In 1831, he became the first Prime Minister of Belgium. Because he was a catholic, and all the other members of the government were liberals, this led to many conflicts. In the end, he resigned his post as Prime Minister. In 1832, he was elected head of the Supreme Court of Belgium. In church matters, he was an ultramontanist.


Étienne-Constantin de Gerlache
1st Prime Minister of Belgium
In office
27 February 1831 – 28 March 1831
MonarchErasme Louis Surlet de Chokier (Regent)
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byJoseph Lebeau
President of the Chamber of Representatives
In office
10 September 1831 – 15 November 1832
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byJean-Joseph Raikem
Personal details
Born26 December 1785[1][2][3]
Bertrix, Austrian Netherlands
(now Belgium)
Died10 February 1871(1871-02-10) (aged 85)
Ixelles, Belgium
Political partyCatholic Party
Spouse(s)Anne Buschmann
Children5

References change

  1. Poplimont, Charles (1866). "La Belgique héraldique: Recueil historique, chronologique, généalogique et biographique complet de toutes les maisons nobles, reconnues de la Belgique". Typ. de G. Adriaens: 392. etienne constantin de gerlache 26 decembre 1785. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. Goethals, Félix-Victor (1857). "Miroir des notabilités nobiliaires de Belgique, des Pays-Bas et du nord de la France". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. "La Belgique littéraire". 1861. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)