Men of the Time, eleventh edition/Andrassy (Count), Julius
ANDRASSY (Count), Julius, a Hungarian statesman, born at Zemplin, on March 8, 1823, the son of Count Charles Andrassy, whose efforts to promote the scientific and industrial progress of his country are well known. He succeeded his father (who died in 1845) as President of the Society for Regulating the Course of the River Theiss; and was returned by his native town to the Diet of 1847, where he rose to distinction in consequence of his oratorical powers and political tact. To the revolutionary movement of 1848 he lent all his influence; and, after the Hungarian Government had fled to Debreczin, in 1849, he was despatched on a mission to the Porte. On the defeat of the revolution he went into exile, and resided in France and England until the general amnesty of 1857 enabled him to return to his native country. Being elected a member of the Hungarian Diet in 1860, he gave a hearty support to the Deack party, and was nominated Vice-President. On the reorganization of the Austrian Empire, and the constitution of a Hungarian ministry in 1867, he was appointed Prime Minister of Hungary, and charged with the department of the defence of the country. Among the principal events of his administration were the civil and political emancipation of the Jews, and the raising of a large sum of money to extend and complete the railway system in Hungary. At the general election of 1869 he was unanimously returned, by the electors of Pesth to the Hungarian Chamber of Representatives. Count Andrassy succeeded Count Beust as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nov. 14, 1871, when he retired from the post of President of the Ministry at Pesth. The Emperor of Austria conferred on Count Andrassy the Order of the Golden Fleece, Jan. 1, 1878. He was the first plenipotentiary of Austria at the Congress of Berlin (June–July, 1878). Count Andrassy retired from public life in Aug. 1879.