Antoine Vessaz

Philippe Antoine Vessaz of Chabrey, born the June 20th 1833 with Chabrey and dead the October 25th 1911 with Constancy, is the son of Louis Joseph Vessaz (1810 - 1884), notary with Avenches and appointed with the Large Council of 1837 with 1843 and of Lucie Marguerite Arnold (1809 - 1885). He marries Elisa Noverraz (1831 - 1921), of Lutry and Cully. He is the large uncle de Lina Delarageaz-Koerner (1882 - 1971), wife of Louis Delarageaz, grandson of the former adviser of State Louis-Henri Delarageaz.

Vessaz begins with Lausanne in 1855 like employee with the Railroad company from West-Switzerland. In 1865 it is substitute of the prefect of Lausanne, then prefect of this district of 1868 with 1873. As of 1873, it becomes one of the four directors of the new Switzerland-Western Railroad company, born from the fusion of those of the Broye and Western Switzerland. It gives its resignation in 1875 and remains without employment to become receiver of the receipt of Lausanne of 1878 with 1892, preferring this station with that of advising State which had been proposed to him, remuneration being five times higher than that of an adviser of State. Captain leading seaman of infantry in 1865.

He is appointed with the Grand the Council of 1874 to 1878, member of Constituent in 1884, adviser in the States of 1875 with 1878 and national adviser of 1878 with 1883. One of rare Swiss to have chaired the two rooms, is the Conseil of the States in 1878 and the National council in 1881. It founds in 1881 radical democratic Association and then becomes the uncontested chief of the radical party of Vaud after the departure for Bern of his close friend Louis Ruchonnet and of the withdrawal of the political scene of Louis-Henri Delarageaz.

Vessaz is member of several boards of directors. It is as of 1886 with the head of the Switzerland-Western-Simplon and puts all its energy then to be made succeed the boring of the Tunnel of the Simplon. He recommends with Louis Ruchonnet the fusion of the Co of the Switzerland-Western-Simplon with that of Jura-Bern-Lucerne which is carried out in 1889. He enters in conflict with Eduard Marti, director of the Jura-Simplon about the repurchase by the State of the railroad Central, thinking that this measurement would delay the boring of the Simplon. Vessaz makes expel in 1892 Marti of the direction of the Jura-Simplon. A scission occurs then between radicals Bernese and of Vaud, the Berneses not appreciating this operation. They show Vessaz to have received on behalf of the German bankers Goldberg and Parcus a bribe estimated at 72 ' 000 francs the day before the fusion of the S.O.S and the Jura-Simplon. The radicals of Vaud are in state of shock and await an answer of Vessaz which is defended mollement and refused to be explained in front of a delegation of the Council of State. He resigns of all his public office in 1892 and passes the end of his life in the German family of his daughter Marguerite Kimmig-Vessaz to Constance.

Of 1881 until its resignation, Vessaz is the most influential man of the Canton of Vaud, although its power is not spread out at the great day. The constitution of 1885 is its work, as well as the graduated income. Indeed, there exists beside the Council of State a parallel government which works under the crook of Vessaz. It is held place Chauderon 4 in a carnotzet installed with the basement of the building pertaining to the brother-in-law of Antoine Vessaz, the contractor lausannois Jean David Wenger (1829 - 1874). Vessaz is the only man who guided the policy of the canton without being with the head of the government, such as Monod, Muret, Pidou, of the Toothing-stone, Druey, Delarageaz and Ruchonnet.

Internal bonds

List of the presidents of the Swiss National council

External bonds

CDL (Democratic Circle of Lausanne), fathers of Radicalism: http://www.cercle-democratique.org/target/body/figures/vessaz_antoine.html

Selective bibliography

P. - has. BOVARD, the government of Vaud of 1803 to 1962. (Accounts and Portraits) , Morges, 1982.
E. GRUNER, " Vessaz-Noverraz, pH. - Antoine, of Chabrey (Vully) " , in: E. GRUNER, the Swiss federal Parliament. 1848-1920. Volume I. Biographies , Bern, 1966, p 845-846.
Mr. REYMOND, " Vessaz Antoine" , in: DHBS (Historical and Biographical Dictionary of Switzerland). Volume VII , Neuchâtel, 1933, p 109.
Sources: BCU (Cantonal Library and Academic) Lausanne, Delarageaz Funds, IS 3681.

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