Melchior Romans
Melchior Römer (born June 16, 1831 in Zurich ; † April 2, 1895 ibid) was Mayor of Zurich from 1867 to 1889.
origin
The Roman family originally came from Maastricht and moved to Aachen in 1568 . In the course of the Reformation , the family came to Zurich, where they were granted citizenship in 1622. The wealthy family was active in the linen trade, was temporarily represented in the Zurich council and lived in the “Römerhaus” at Bleicherweg 44. Melchior Römer's parents were the merchant Melchior Römer and Maria Magdalena Ulrich, a “strictly ecclesiastical woman”, who in addition to Melchior had two Gave birth to daughters.
education
From 1837 to 1844 Melchior attended the general city school. He made a full recovery from a disease of the hip joint. Until 1851 he attended the cantonal high school in Zurich, which he graduated with the Matura . Melchior then went to the University of Zurich , where, in addition to studying law, he also took courses in philosophy.
At Easter 1853 Melchior moved to Berlin, where he continued his studies. There he met the Swiss painter Albert Anker , who made a pencil sketch of him. Melchior Römer wrote his dissertation in Zurich in 1855. It dealt with a civil law topic: «The legal evolution of the obligation of the heirs for the obligatory obligations of the testator from Gaius to Justinian and in common law». During his studies he was a member of the Zofingia student union .
After completing his studies, Römer first traveled to relatives in Yverdon , where he learned French, and then visited Paris and London. Amazed by the informal intercourse between the sexes that prevailed there, he only allowed himself after a "serious examination" whether this was also appropriate for him. However, he then seemed to have enjoyed the company of women "not without heartfelt pleasure".
Professional background
Back in Zurich, Römer became adjunct of the governor's office in March 1857 . His duties included the preliminary investigation of criminal cases. The office brought him a certain degree of awareness and helped him to be elected to the district electoral assembly, in 1860 to the municipal school administration.
Since Römer proved himself in his office, he was elected to the city council in the renewal elections in 1861, where he took over the police headquarters. In the city administration, Römer found his school friend Heinrich Landolt, Colonel A. Vögeli, city clerk Eugen Escher and city engineer Arnold Bürkli in young people of the same age . Everyone cared about the development of the city in the 1860s and 70s. Römer had his first successes in his position as the city's chief policeman when he succeeded in using his natural authority to limit the occasional exuberant jokes of the numerous students to an acceptable level. He also made sure that the police officers were better paid and trained and that they received a new, smart uniform. Thanks to his amiable and popular manner, Römer also earned the affection of the citizens. In 1864 Römer became president of the police section of a commission that regulated the cooperation of the city with the neighboring communities until the first city association in 1893.
When Römers joined the city council, a period of structural development began again for the city for the first time since the deficits were closed. It began with the construction of the station bridge and the Selnau district and continued with the construction of the Stadelhofen district. Linked to this was the " sewer reform", with which the partially still functioning moats were repealed by a general sewer system. The Fröschengraben was also filled in, Bahnhofstrasse was built and the military facilities were relocated from the station area to the Sihl . New springs were added to the city and a process water ordinance was issued. In many of these extensive projects, Römer was directly involved as head of the medical police.
City President
In 1867, Römer was elected Vice President of the City Council and after the resignation of incumbent President Johann Heinrich Mousson, he became City President of Zurich on August 22, 1869. As was customary at the time, no department was assigned to him. So that he had time to study files and answer questions of a general nature, he was only responsible for managing the poor, the orphanage and some foundations.
Römer quickly worked his way into the new office, benefiting from his fundamental knowledge of administration, his extensive education and his calm, amiable personality. He believed in the collegiality principle , according to which the minority had to submit to the majority and the authority should act as one. The manner in which he led "was light and elegant and free from any pedantry". He encouraged his staff to communicate in a friendly and helpful manner with the citizens; they are there for the audience and not the audience for their sake. His tasks also include leading the large community meeting, which he led "with great expertise, with a clear voice and clear diction". As the first president, he wanted representatives of the city council to be present in all major city-wide business.
In 1869 Römer was elected as a representative of the Liberal Party in the Cantonal Council, where he took a seat in the commissions for the revision of the legislation and for the revision of the criminal code. In 1874 Römer and the town clerk Bernhard Spyri, husband of Johanna Spyri , achieved that Swiss citizens were accepted into the community after ten years of residence, which some old citizens did not appreciate. In 1872 Römer was narrowly defeated in the election to the government council by his rival, the director of education Sieber. In 1873 he was elected President of the Cantonal Council; a position to which he was also elected in 1878 and 1886. Römer was elected to the National Council in October 1872 , after which he took part in the consultation of the constitutional revision of 1874.
Römer was very committed to strengthening federal authority and uniform Swiss legislation. He successfully fought against the return of the right to impose the death penalty to the cantons (however, the corresponding constitutional article prohibiting the death penalty was deleted from the constitution after a referendum in 1879). A candidacy for the Federal Council failed in 1879 due to the occupation: Römer was exempted from military service for health reasons and a soldier was wanted to fill the military department.
From 1871 to 1886 Römer was president of the Zunft zur Gerwe und Schuhmachern. He always took part in the Sechseläuten and proved to be a witty speaker on the occasion of mutual visits by the guilds. He was also happy to take part in the foundation celebrations of the universities and welcomed the new clergy to the parishes. On August 25, 1885, he inaugurated the statue of Ulrich Zwingli in front of a large crowd at the Wasserkirche .
During Roman's tenure, numerous buildings were built during the major construction period that greatly changed the appearance of the city: in 1874 the extension of the tent path to the street to Heimplatz, in 1876 the construction of the industrial quarter, in 1880 the construction of the Seequais, in 1881 the reconstruction of the town hall bridge and in 1885 the extension the Rämistrasse . The scratching quarters were closed and the Rösslitram started operations. In the first urban expansion in 1893, twelve surrounding communities became districts of the city. In connection with the expansion of the railway lines, Römer was first elected to the board of directors of the Nordostbahngesellschaft in 1883 and later as its president.
On the occasion of his 25th anniversary as a member of the city council, he was presented with the gold medal of the city of Zurich in 1886; the press praised Romans as shrewd and impartial magistrates. What Romans lacked was a certain tenacity to get his point across; he often gave in to avoid a conflict with an opponent.
Last years
On June 21, 1886, Römer suffered a minor stroke during a meeting of the cantonal council, which he was presiding at the time , the consequences of which disappeared again thanks to long spa stays in baths. In June 1888 a more serious blow followed, which was repeated a short time later and forced him to resign from all offices. Römer suffered right-sided paralysis, but learned to write with his left hand. After a period of severe suffering, Melchior Römer died on April 2, 1895 in his home in Zurich. He found his final resting place in the private cemetery Hohe Promenade .
Appreciation
His city council colleague Paul Usteri (1853–1927) writes about Römer: Römer was above all a sincere, benevolent nature, striving to help the true, to ward off injustice, to promote the good. In his demeanor, through his fine and measured demeanor, he retained a magistral dignity, which, however, by no means kept confidentiality from being around; the pride of the wealthy city of Zurich from an aristocratic family was completely alien to his being, as was the belief in the "good old days". His friendliness and his elegant eloquence made him friends and followers in all classes of the population.
Private
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On April 9, 1863 Römer married Anna Pestalozzi from the cattle market in Zurich; a "highly gifted partner, at the same time an image of extraordinary beauty". The marriage resulted in three sons and two daughters. One daughter died at a young age, the other children outlived their father.
Römer lived with his family in the "Haus zur Trülle", built in 1756, on the Fröschengraben . From 1881 to 1883, Römer had a new house built in the Renaissance style next to it on Bahnhofstrasse . His first house was demolished in 1897 and rebuilt in a lush German Renaissance style. Today it stands between Jelmoli and Bahnhofstrasse.
In addition to his friendship with Albert Anker at a young age, Römer was later friends with the painters Rudolf Koller and Ernst Stückelberg , who painted a scene from Gottfried Keller's Hadlaub in the dining room of his new house .
literature
- Paul Usteri: New Year's paper for the best of the orphanage in Zurich for 1901 , commission publisher Bläsi & Beer, Zurich 1901
Web links
- Susanne Peter-Kubli: Römer, Melchior. In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland .
Individual evidence
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Johann Heinrich Mousson |
Mayor of Zurich 1867–1889 |
Hans Konrad Pestalozzi |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Romans, Melchior |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Mayor of Zurich |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 16, 1831 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Zurich |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 2, 1895 |
| Place of death | Zurich |