Josef Ospelt
Prime Minister of Liechtenstein
In office
5 October 1921 – 4 May 1922
MonarchJohann II
DeputyAlfons Feger[1]
Preceded byPosition established (From Governor)
Succeeded byAlfons Feger(As acting Prime Minister)
Governor of Liechtenstein
In office
23 March 1921 – 5 October 1921
MonarchJohann II
Preceded byJosef Peer
Succeeded byPosition abolished (Himself as Prime Minister)
Personal details
Born(1881-01-09)9 January 1881
Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Died1 June 1962(1962-06-01) (aged 81)
Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Political partyProgressive Citizens' Party
Spouse
Mathilde Ospelt
​
​
(m. 1916; died 1960)​
Children4

Josef Ospelt (9 January 1881 – 1 June 1962) was a political figure from Liechtenstein who served as the first Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 1921 to 1922.[1]

Early life and career

Josef Ospelt, to the son of Julius Caesar and his mother Mary Seger, was born in Vaduz on 9 January 1881. After attending a country school in Vaduz, he began working as a government councillor under Governor of Liechtenstein Carl von In der Maur.[2]

Upon Maur's death in 1913, he conducted urgent government business on behalf of Johann II until the appointment of the new Governor Leopold Freiherr von Imhof in April 1914.[2][3] In 1918, Ospelt joined the founders of the Progressive Citizens' Party and was later elected chairman and longtime manager of the newspaper Liechtensteiner Volksblatt.[2]

Prime Minister of Liechtenstein

On 23 March 1921, he succeeded provincial administrator, Josef Peer and participated in the preparation of a new constitution.[4] After the new Constitution of 5 October 1921 took effect, he was appointed head of the government, on the recommendation of the Landtag. In this transitional period he was Liechtenstein's last provincial administrator as well as the first head of government as Prime Minister. Ospelt resigned the position on 27 April 1922 reportedly for health reasons, and was succeeded by his deputy Alfons Feger as acting Prime Minister.[5]

Ospelt, third from left on the front as Prime Minister with members of the Landtag, 1921.

Later life

After his resignation as Prime Minister on, he moved with his family to Vienna. From 1918 to 1922, he served as treasurer and the royal domain administration. After 1922, he established a legal and insurance agency in Vaduz. In 1925 he was a representative of the Zurich Insurance Group. After the renewed political upheaval in 1928, Ospelt held several public offices. He was among the founding members of the Historical Society in Liechtenstein, which he headed from 1928 to 1955 as chairman and for many years on the Board of the Vintners of Vaduz.[4] From 1930 to 1932 he served as a member of the Landtag of Liechtenstein.[2][6]

Ospelt died on 1 June 1962 in Vaduz, at the age of 81.[2]

Personal life

Ospelt married Mathilde Ospelt (25 May 1889 –16 April 1960) on 2 October 1916 and they had four children together.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862-2021". www.regierung.li.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Quaderer, Rupert (31 December 2011). "Ospelt, Josef". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  3. ↑ "Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862–2021". www.regierung.li.
  4. 1 2 Ospelt, Alois (2000). "Fürstlicher Rat Josef Ospelt". EINTRACHT (in German). Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862–2021". www.regierung.li.
  6. ↑ Vogt, Paul (1987). 125 Jahre Landtag. Vaduz: Landtag of the Principality of Liechtenstein.
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