Paul Eyschen

Paul Eyschen (9 September 1841 – 11 October 1915) was a Luxembourgish politician, statesman, lawyer, and diplomat. He was the eighth Prime Minister of Luxembourg, serving for twenty-seven years, from 22 September 1888 until his death, on 11 October 1915.

The son of Charles-Gérard Eyschen, a former Director-General for Justice, Eyschen was born in Diekirch, in northern Luxembourg, on 9 September 1841. Eyschen graduated in 1860 from the Athénée de Luxembourg. Eyschen became a lawyer after studying Law in Bonn and Paris. He was admitted to the bar on 9 November 1865.

At the elections of 12 June 1866, Eyschen was elected to Chamber of Deputies, representing the canton of Wiltz. However, he was not yet 25 years old on the day of the vote, as required by the constitution. His election victory was first annulled by the Chamber on the initiative of Félix de Blochausen, but when the now-vacant seat was put up again for election on 10 November, he won it back and, being 25, he kept it.

In 1875, he was appointed Chargé d'Affaires to the German Empire, in which capacity he served until 1888.

On 7 July 1876, Eyschen emulated his father by becoming Director-General for Justice, a position he held until 1888, when, upon the resignation of Édouard Thilges, Eyschen was appointed Prime Minister. For the following 27 years, Eyschen dominated Luxembourgian political life, holding sway over a succession of monarchs and overseeing an era of economic resurgence and the end of the personal union with the Netherlands.

Eyschen died, whilst still in office, on 11 October 1915, one year into the German occupation during the First World War. He was succeeded by his long-term Director-General for Finances and ally, Mathias Mongenast.