Josef Ospelt(9 January 1881 – 1 June 1962) was a political figure fromLiechtensteinwho served as the firstPrime Minister of Liechtensteinfrom 1921 to 1922.
Josef Ospelt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Prime Minister of Liechtenstein | |
| In office 5 October 1921 – 4 May 1922 | |
| Monarch | Johann II |
| Deputy | Alfons Feger |
| Preceded by | Position established(From Governor) |
| Succeeded by | Alfons Feger(Acting Prime Minister) |
| Governor of Liechtenstein | |
| In office 23 March 1921 – 5 October 1921 | |
| Monarch | Johann II |
| Preceded by | Josef Peer |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished(Himself as Prime Minister) |
| In office 11 December 1913 – 1 April 1914 | |
| Monarch | Johann II |
| Preceded by | Carl von In der Maur |
| Succeeded by | Leopold Freiherr von Imhof |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 January 1881 Vaduz,Liechtenstein |
| Died | 1 June 1962(aged 81) Vaduz,Liechtenstein |
| Political party | Progressive Citizens' Party |
| Spouse |
Mathilde Ospelt
(m.1916; died 1960) |
| Children | 4 |
| Cabinet | Josef Ospelt cabinet |
Early life and career
editJosef Ospelt, to the son of Julius Caesar and his mother Mary Seger, was born inVaduzon 9 January 1881. After attending a country school in Vaduz, he began working as a government councillor underGovernor of LiechtensteinCarl von In der Maur.[1]
Upon Maur's death on 11 December 1913, he assumed the duties of Governor in a provisional manner on behalf ofJohann IIuntil the appointment of the new GovernorLeopold Freiherr von Imhofin April 1914.[1][2]In 1918, Ospelt was a founding member of theProgressive Citizens' Partyand was later elected chairman and long-time manager of the newspaperLiechtensteiner Volksblatt.[1]
Prime Minister of Liechtenstein
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Upon the resignation ofJosef Peerin March 1921 Ospelt was appointed by Johann II as Governor under the recommendation of Peer and theLandtag of Liechtenstein,once.[1][3]He played a key role in Liechtenstein's constitutional revision, which had been in demand since theNovember 1918 Liechtenstein putsch.[1][4]He was a member of the advisory committee for the drafting of the constitution and co-signed, along withPrince Karl Aloys of Liechtensteintheconstitution of Liechtensteinon 5 October 1921.[1][5]
Under the new constitution, the office of Governor was succeeded byPrime Minister of Liechtensteinand Ospelt, under the recommendation of the Landtag, was appointed by Johann II to serve as the first Prime Minister on 23 March 1921 under theJosef Ospelt cabinet,making him the first official Liechtensteiner head of government.[1][6]
Ospelt resigned on 27 April 1922, reportedly for health reasons, but the actual reason has been widely regarded due to theChristian-Social People's Partyvictory in the1922 Liechtenstein general election.[1]He was temporarily succeeded by his deputyAlfons Fegeras acting Prime Minister.[6]Under thesuccessor governmentunderGustav Schädler,Ospelt faced criticism from his term due to his ties with Johann II and former Governor Josef Peer. He defended himself in numerous publications in the Liechtensteiner Volksbatt.[1]
Later life
editAfter his resignation as Prime Minister on, he moved with his family toVienna.From 1918 to 1922, he served as treasurer and the royal domain administration. After 1922, he established a legal and insurance agency inVaduz.In 1925 he was a representative of theZurich Insurance Group.After the renewed political upheaval in 1928, Ospelt held several public offices. He was among the founding members of the Historical Society in Liechtenstein, which he headed from 1928 to 1955 as chairman and for many years on the Board of the Vintners of Vaduz.[3]From1930to 1932 he served as a member of the Landtag of Liechtenstein.[7]
He was a founding member of theHistorical Association for the Principality of Liechtensteinin 1901 and a board member from 1918 to 1950. During this time he significantly contributed to the associations publications and conducted his own research, publishing 24 articles. In addition, he organised archaeological excavations in the country throughout the 1930s and the preservation of Liechtenstein's documents from 1942. He was a contributor to theLiechtenstein National Museum,which opened in 1954.[1]
Personal life
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Ospelt married Mathilde, née Ospelt (25 May 1889 –16 April 1960), on 2 October 1916 and they had four children together.[1]
He died on 1 June 1962 in Vaduz, at the age of 81.[8][9]He was buried at the cemetery in the city along with his wife.
Honours
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References
edit- ^abcdefghijklmQuaderer, Rupert (31 December 2011)."Ospelt, Josef".Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein(in German).Retrieved28 August2023.
- ^"Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862–2021".www.regierung.li.
- ^abOspelt, Alois (2000)."Fürstlicher Rat Josef Ospelt".EINTRACHT(in German).Retrieved28 August2023.
- ^Quaderer, Rupert (31 December 2011)."Novemberputsch 1918".Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein(in German).Retrieved3 October2023.
- ^Wille, Herbert (31 December 2011)."Verfassung".Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein(in German).Retrieved24 December2023.
- ^ab"Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862–2021".www.regierung.li.
- ^Paul Vogt(1987).125 Jahre Landtag.Vaduz: Landtag of the Principality of Liechtenstein.
- ^"Josef Ospelt †".Liechtensteiner Volksblatt(in German). 5 June 1962. p. 1.Retrieved13 February2024.
- ^"Josef Ospelt †".Liechtensteiner Vaterland(in German). 9 June 1962. p. 4.