FALK, ADALBERT (1827-190o), German politician, was born at Matschkau, Silesia, on Aug. 1o, 1827. In 1847 he entered the Prussian state service, and in 1853 became public prosecutor at Lyck. From 1872 to 1879 he was minister of education, and in connection with Bismarck's policy of the Kultur-kampf he was responsible for the famous May Laws against the Catholics (see GERMANY : History). He retained his seat in the Reichstag till 1882, when he was made president of the supreme court of jus tice at Hamm. He died on July 7, 1900.
See H. R. Fischer, Adalbert Falk (i9oi).