Alfred Escher
Alfred Escher | |
|---|---|
Escher around 1875 | |
| Member of the National Council (Switzerland) | |
| In office 6 November 1848 – 6 December 1882 | |
| Succeeded by | Konrad Cramer |
| Constituency | Zürich-Südwest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Johann Heinrich Alfred Escher vom Glas February 20, 1819 Zürich, Switzerland |
| Died | December 6, 1882 (aged 63) Enge, Switzerland |
| Political party | Free Radical Liberals |
| Spouse |
Augusta Uebel
(m. 1857; died 1864) |
| Children | 2, including Lydia |
| Occupation |
|
Johann Heinrich Alfred Escher vom Glas colloquially Alfred Escher (20 February 1819 – 6 December 1882) was a Swiss business magnate, banker, railway pioneer and politician who most notably served on the National Council from 1848 to 1882 for the Liberal Party.
Escher was born into a well-established old family of Zurich, Switzerland. Through his numerous political posts and his significant role in the foundation and management of the Swiss Northeastern Railway, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Credit Suisse, Swiss Life and the Gotthard Railway, Escher had an unmatched influence on Switzerland's political and economic development in the 19th century.