Fazy, James |
| PUBLICIST, STATESMAN (SWITZERLAND) |
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BORN 12 May 1794, Genève - DIED 6 Nov 1878, Petic-Saconnex (near Genève) GRAVE LOCATION Genève, Genève: Cimetière de Plainpalais, Rue des Rois (E-500) |
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James Fazy was educated in France. He settled in Paris as a journalist and he took part in the liberal opposition. In 1830 he signed the protest of the journalists against the July orders. He opposed the Duke of Orléans who became king and after several prosecutions he returned to Geneva in 1833, where he had founded the Journal de Genève in 1826. In Geneva he organised the radical movement of 1841 and the uprising from October 1846. He headed the provisional goverment and then the new permanent government. he wrote a new constitution for Geneva and as the representatuve of Geneva he succeeded in establishing of the American system with two chambers in Switzerland. He headed the government until the election of 1853, but he returned to power in 1855. Fazy modernized Geneva in many ways. He encouraged industry and banking, installed a primary education system and improved public health facilities. But he acted more and more like a dictator and his private life was scandalous. When he was a candidate once more in 1864 riots broke out and Swiss troops occupied Geneva. This ended his power and influence. When the Banque générale suisse de crédit international mobilier et foncier broke down in 1865 he was financially ruined. He turned his attention to art and culture and in 1867 he organised a peace congress. From 1871 onwards he taught law at the University of Geneva. |
| Images |
 The grave of James Fazy at the Cimetière de Plainpalais, Genève. Picture by Androom (06 Dec 2007) |
Sources • James Fazy - Wikipedia (DE) |
