Falck, Anton-Reinhard (1777-1843)

EnglishNederlandsfrançais

FR

NL

Statesman, born in Utrecht (the Netherlands) on 19 March 1777 and died in Brussels on 16 March 1843.

Biography

Anton-Reinhard Falck was born in Utrecht on 19 March 1776. His father, Otto Willem Falck, was an employee of the East India Company. He started his education at the Latin school and then studied at the Atheneum in Amsterdam. He continued his education at Leiden University, where he presented a thesis on marriage on 26 June 1799. . In 1795 and 1796 he travelled to France and Belgium. In 1799 and 1800, he returned to Germany to visit universities and study diplomacy in Göttingen. In the same year, he became a member of the Amsterdam city council.

In 1802, he was secretary of the legation in Madrid for the Batavian Republic. In 1805, he returned to the Netherlands. Having fought for independence, he nevertheless accepted to enter Louis Bonaparte's service. He successively became secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to the Department of Colonies. At the annexation of the Netherlands to France, he gave up all his political functions. This resulted in him being placed under surveillance by the French government. He fled to Germany, Denmark and Sweden where he defended the interests of Amsterdam merchants.

In 1812, he returned to the Netherlands and was appointed captain of a regiment of the Amsterdam National Guard. In 1813, he was one of the champions of the national revolt against French rule. After independence, William I of Orange appointed him Secretary of State. He played an important role in the foundation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 1817, he married the Belgian Baroness de Roisin.

On 7 May 1816, as Secretary of State, he co-signed the Royal Decree reorganising the Académie royale des Sciences et Belles-Lettres de Bruxelles. He was appointed an honorary member on 7 May 1818. In the same year, he actively participated in the establishment of the universities of Liège, Ghent and Leuven.

In 1818, he was appointed Minister of Public Education, National Industry and Colonies. He fulfilled missions to Vienna and Paris. In 1824 he became an ambassador in Londen.

In 1830, he was an opponent of Belgian independence, yet he was realistic about the consequences of the Belgian Revolution. In 1832, he was removed from office and released from his political duties. After the ratification of the peace treaty on 19 April 1839, William I appointed him extraordinary envoy and minister plenipotentiary for the Netherlands in Brussels. He held these positions until his death on 16 March 1843.

Works

Anton-Reinhard Falck's most important publications were written during his diplomatic missions or travels. His correspondence was published.
During his journey from 1812 to 1813, he compiled a work on the influence of the Dutch nation on the enlightenment of the Northern peoples. Dit werk presenteerde hij in de 3de klasse aan het Koninklijk Instituut der Wetenschappen.

Publications

• FALCK, Anton-Reinhard, Disputatio juridica de matrimonio, ex sententià celebb. Imm. Kant et Joh. Gottl, Amsterdam : Petrus de Hengst, 1799. Available at the Royal Library (KBR).
• FALCK, Anton-Reinhard, Idé der ontwikkeling van 's menschen zedelijken aanleg in de geschiedenis opgespoord, in VAN HEMERT, Magazijn voor de kritische wijsbegeerte enz. 4de deel, 2de en 3de stuk, Amsterdam, 1801.
• FALCK, Anton-Reinhard, Over het mislukken van alle wijsgeerige proeven eener théodicée, in VAN HEMERT, Magazijn voor de kritische wijsbegeerte enz. 5de deel, Amsterdam, 1801.
• FALCK, Anton-Reinhard, Ambst-brieven. 1802-1842, Den Haag: Van Stockum, 1878. Available at the royal library.
• FALCK, Anton-Reinhard, Over den invloed der beschaving van de nederlandsche natie op de verlichting van de noordsche volken, Amsterdam, 1813. Available at the Royal Library (KBR).
• FALCK, Anton-Reinhard, Brieven 1795-1843, Den Haag: [s.n.], 1861. Available at the royal library.
  

Bibliography

• Antoine-Reinhard Falck, in QUETELET, Lambert-Adolphe-Jacques, Sciences Mathématiques et Physiques chez les Belges au commencement du XIXe Siècle, Brussel: Thiry-Van Buggenhoudt, 1866, p. 702-726.
• Anton Reinhard Falck 1777-1843, Website dbnl geconsulteerd op 4-01-2010.
• BLOK, P.J., MOLHUYSEN, P.C., Falck, Anton Reinhard, in Nieuw Nederlandsch biografisch woordenboek, vol. 1, 1911, p.845-847.
• Falck (Antoine-Reinhard), in Dictionnaire universèle et classique d'histoire et de géographie, Brussel : F. Parent, 1855, kol. 154-155.
• FREDERIKS, J.G., VAN DEN BRANDEN, F. J., Levensbericht van Anton Reinhard Falck, in Biographisch woordenboek der Noord- en Zuidnederlandsche letterkunde, Amsterdam: L.J. Veen, 1888-1891, p.39-43.
• JUSTE, Th., Antoine-Reinhard, baron FALCK, in Biographie Nationale, vol. 6, Brussel : Bruylant-Christophe & Cie, imprimeurs-éditeurs, kol. 858-862.
• KESTELOOT, Jacob-Lodewijk, Hulde aan de nagedachtenis van Mr. Anton Reinhart Falck. Vrij gevolgd naar het Fransch van den Heer A. Quetelet, , bestendigen Geheimschrijver der Brusselsche Akademie, enz. door Dr. J.L. Kesteloot, Professor emeritus, Lid derzelfde Akademie, enz. Met Portret, in Vaderlandsche letteroefeningen, Den Haag: J.L.C. Jacob, 1844.
• QUETELET, Lambert-Adolphe-Jacques, Notice sur Antoine-Reinhard Falck, in Annuaire de l'Académie royale des sciences, des lettres et des beaux-arts de Belgique, vol. 10, Brussel: Hayez, 1844, p. 79-107.
• VAN DER AA, A.J., Anton Reinhard Falck, in Biographisch woordenboek der Nederlanden, vol. 6, Haarlem : J.J. van Brederode, 1859, p.32-35.