ESCRER, Jog. ALFRED, a distinguished Swiss statesman, was b. at Zurich, 20th Feb., 1819, and studied at Bonn and Berlin. In 1842, he was created doctor of law at Zurich; and spent the two following years in Paris, devoting his attention chiefly to studies connected with Roman law. On his return to Zurich, E. became a lecturer in the high school, the subject of his lectures being chiefly the political law of the Swiss confederacy. In 1844, he was elected member of the great council of the canton, and was thus drawn into the arena of practical statesmanship, Even at that early period, his sentiments were decidedly liberal. In Jan., 1845, along with six others who shared his opinions, he published the famous summons to the popular assembly in Unterstrass for the expulsion of the Jesuits. His election into the council of the interior in 1845, and into the council of education in 1846, opened a wide field for his administrative tal ents in his native canton. The reorganization of the schools in the canton of Zurich.
according to the demands of the time, is chiefly his work. In Dec. 1847, he became president of the great council; and in his opening speech, recommended the complete reform of the confederacy, and the greatest possible centralization. In 1848, he was sent as a deputy to the federal diet; and, along with M. iNitInzinger, was charged with the negotiations entered into between Switzerland and Austria, in regard to the canton of Tessin. In Dec. of the same year, E. became president of the newly elected council of regency. Since that time, his energies have been chiefly directed to education, the reorganization of church policy, and the promotion of railway enterprise and banking institutions in Switzerland. He became president of the national council in 1849, and held the post of vice-president in 1856-57, and 1861-62.