Georges Theunis
Georges (George) Emile Léonard Theunis (28 February 1873 – 4 January 1966) was the Prime Minister of Belgium from 16 December 1921 to 13 May 1925 and again from 20 November 1934 to 25 March 1935. He was governor of the National Bank of Belgium (NBB) from 1941 until 1944. He was Minister of Finance from 1920 to 1925.
Georges Theunis | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Prime Minister of Belgium | |
In office 20 November 1934 – 25 March 1935 | |
Monarch | Leopold III |
Preceded by | Charles de Broqueville |
Succeeded by | Paul van Zeeland |
In office 16 December 1921 – 13 May 1925 | |
Monarch | Albert I |
Preceded by | Henri Carton de Wiart |
Succeeded by | Aloys Van de Vyvere |
Governor of the National Bank of Belgium | |
In office 1941–1944 | |
Preceded by | Albert Goffin |
Succeeded by | Maurice Frère |
Personal details | |
Born | Montegnée, Belgium | 28 February 1873
Died | 4 January 1966 92) Brussels, Belgium | (aged
Political party | Catholic Party |
He received a military training and was also trained as an engineer. Georges Theunis started his career in the Empain group, where he was an administrator and later the president of the board of ACEC. During World War I, he headed the Belgian Wartime Provisions Commission in London. After the war he was involved in the Paris Peace Conference, 1919 and served as the Belgian delegate to the Reparations Commission. From 1926 until 1927 he chaired the International Economic Conference in Geneva.
In 1926 he joined the newly formed council of regency of the National Bank, together with Emile Francqui, and remained a member until the war, except for two breaks during his ministerial duties. As regents of the NBB, both Theunis and Francqui represented the power which the large private banks had gained since 1926. During World War II he served as a special ambassador to the United States of America. In 1941, he was appointed governor of the National Bank of Belgium by the Pierlot government in exile at London instead of Albert Goffin who had been appointed by Secretary General Charles Plisnier. On his return to Belgium after the war, he resigned as governor of the NBB.
Honours
Belgium: Minister of State, by Royal Decree.[1]
Belgium: Grand Cordon in the Order of Leopold
Czechoslovakia: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Lion
France: knight Grand Cross Legion of Honour
United Kingdom: Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
- Grand Cross in the Order of Saint Gregory the Great, 1932. [2]
References
Sources
External links
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Henri Carton de Wiart |
Prime Minister of Belgium 1921–1925 |
Succeeded by Aloys Van de Vyvere |
Preceded by Charles de Broqueville |
Prime Minister of Belgium 1934–1935 |
Succeeded by Paul van Zeeland |
Government offices | ||
Preceded by Albert Goffin |
Governor of the National Bank of Belgium 1941–1944 |
Succeeded by Maurice Frère |