Johan Rudolph Thorbecke
Encyclopedia
Johan Rudolph Thorbecke (January 14, 1798 – June 4, 1872) was a Dutch
politician and statesman of Liberal
signature who is considered as one of the most important Dutch politicians of the 19th century. In 1848 he virtually singlehandedly drafted the revision of the Constitution of the Netherlands
, giving less power to the king, and more to the States-General of the Netherlands
.
, and began studying classic literature and philosophy phisycal education in Amsterdam
, studies he finished in Leiden defending a thesis on Asinius Pollio. After studying at several universities in Germany
he was appointed at the chair of diplomacy (history of international relations) and was at the University of Ghent in Belgium
, which in those days was part of the Netherlands. Because of the Belgian insurrection in 1830 he had to give up this position, and one year later he was promoted to professor in diplomacy and modern history at the Leiden University
.
of the Dutch parliament.
Due to the international unrest in 1848, King William II
decided to form a committee for revision of the constitution, and Thorbecke was appointed as the head of that committee. The changes, which were virtually all created by Thorbecke, were grudgingly approved by the parliament. The most important changes were those limiting of the powers of the monarch, introducing direct elections, establishing liberty of religion, and strengthening the powers of the parliament and the ministers. The new constitution was proclaimed on November 3, 1848.
In 1849, Thorbecke became minister of internal affairs, thereby de facto becoming the first Prime Minister
of the Netherlands. During this cabinet, he devised several important laws, most important of which were laws on elections (1850), municipalities (1851) and provinces (1850). His cabinet was forced to resign in 1853 because of the so-called Aprilbeweging ("April Movement"), a Protestant group which protested against re-instituting the Catholic
diocese
s, which Thorbecke's cabinet had allowed.
On January 31, 1862, Thorbecke again became minister of internal affairs. During his second cabinet, a new law regarding secondary education was among the most important achievements. Important works regarding national transportation were initiated. The cabinet fell on February 10, 1866 and Thorbecke resigned, after a conflict regarding criminal law in the Dutch East Indies
. During the periods he was not part of the government, he was still a very influential member of parliament, quite often pointing out to his colleagues and to the ministers the right way to interpret the constitution. On January 4, 1871, Thorbecke led his third and final cabinet. His plans for reforms in the army failed, and he became ill in December of that year. He never fully recovered, and he died at his home in The Hague
. Regretted by many, hated by some (he was not a man of concessions), he is nowadays considered a towering figure in the Dutch parliamentary history. There are two statues of Thorbecke (one in Amsterdam and one in Zwolle), and a room in the Dutch parliament building is named after him.
Thorbecke wrote many articles on history and several newspaper articles (especially in the Journal de La Haye) on topics of the day. He published a study on the philosophy of history (in German), and all of his speeches in parliament have been published.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
politician and statesman of Liberal
Liberalism in the Netherlands
This article gives an overview of liberalism in the Netherlands. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament.-Background:...
signature who is considered as one of the most important Dutch politicians of the 19th century. In 1848 he virtually singlehandedly drafted the revision of the Constitution of the Netherlands
Constitution of the Netherlands
The Constitution of the Netherlands is the fundamental law of the European territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The present constitution is generally seen as directly derived from the one issued in 1815, constituting a constitutional monarchy. A revision in 1848 instituted a system of...
, giving less power to the king, and more to the States-General of the Netherlands
States-General of the Netherlands
The States-General of the Netherlands is the bicameral legislature of the Netherlands, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The parliament meets in at the Binnenhof in The Hague. The archaic Dutch word "staten" originally related to the feudal classes in which medieval...
.
Early life
Thorbecke was born in ZwolleZwolle
Zwolle is a municipality and the capital city of the province of Overijssel, Netherlands, 120 kilometers northeast of Amsterdam. Zwolle has about 120,000 citizens.-History:...
, and began studying classic literature and philosophy phisycal education in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, studies he finished in Leiden defending a thesis on Asinius Pollio. After studying at several universities in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
he was appointed at the chair of diplomacy (history of international relations) and was at the University of Ghent in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, which in those days was part of the Netherlands. Because of the Belgian insurrection in 1830 he had to give up this position, and one year later he was promoted to professor in diplomacy and modern history at the Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
.
Political career
In 1839, he published his criticisms of the current Dutch constitution in a very detailed study ('Aanteekening op de grondwet'); as a result, he became a well-known political figure. Five years later, together with eight other politicians, he formulated a proposal to change the Dutch constitution. The proposal, known as the Voorstel der Negenmannen ("proposition of the nine men"), did not pass through the House of Representatives, the lower houseLower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
of the Dutch parliament.
William II of the Netherlands
William II was King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Duke of Limburg from 7 October 1840 until his death in 1849.- Early life and education :...
decided to form a committee for revision of the constitution, and Thorbecke was appointed as the head of that committee. The changes, which were virtually all created by Thorbecke, were grudgingly approved by the parliament. The most important changes were those limiting of the powers of the monarch, introducing direct elections, establishing liberty of religion, and strengthening the powers of the parliament and the ministers. The new constitution was proclaimed on November 3, 1848.
In 1849, Thorbecke became minister of internal affairs, thereby de facto becoming the first Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of the Netherlands. During this cabinet, he devised several important laws, most important of which were laws on elections (1850), municipalities (1851) and provinces (1850). His cabinet was forced to resign in 1853 because of the so-called Aprilbeweging ("April Movement"), a Protestant group which protested against re-instituting the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s, which Thorbecke's cabinet had allowed.
On January 31, 1862, Thorbecke again became minister of internal affairs. During his second cabinet, a new law regarding secondary education was among the most important achievements. Important works regarding national transportation were initiated. The cabinet fell on February 10, 1866 and Thorbecke resigned, after a conflict regarding criminal law in the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
. During the periods he was not part of the government, he was still a very influential member of parliament, quite often pointing out to his colleagues and to the ministers the right way to interpret the constitution. On January 4, 1871, Thorbecke led his third and final cabinet. His plans for reforms in the army failed, and he became ill in December of that year. He never fully recovered, and he died at his home in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. Regretted by many, hated by some (he was not a man of concessions), he is nowadays considered a towering figure in the Dutch parliamentary history. There are two statues of Thorbecke (one in Amsterdam and one in Zwolle), and a room in the Dutch parliament building is named after him.
Thorbecke wrote many articles on history and several newspaper articles (especially in the Journal de La Haye) on topics of the day. He published a study on the philosophy of history (in German), and all of his speeches in parliament have been published.